"Because.. I was weak enough to stay behind that wall," she blurted out. "That's why I'm not strong. It's all a sad, sad lie that it makes it all better. It only makes things not matter, but when things don't.. everything else hurts less. And I'm so tired of hurting." Tired though resilient, Elena knew no matter how deep her pain went, she wouldn't give up. Especially not when she still had people around her that cared as much as they did; Damon included.
He was the main reason she had actually survived being a vampire at all, even in spite of the sire bond causing her dietary issues.
Elena stared at him, so many emotions mixed behind teary eyes, and let herself breathe. As always, he was right. She just needed some time to grieve, then time to be with the ones she loved. Grateful that most of them were here, Elena wished for a smile that never came. At least then Damon would know he'd made a difference, but that wasn't the motivation for his assurances. He did it for her, not himself. Selfish as he painted himself out to be, Elena had seen countless occurrences of him being quite the opposite.
"You're right.." She nodded timidly, drawing in a deep, albeit unneeded, breath. "I just need time. I'll get there. Just need.. time." She knew she was repeating herself in a daze. Emotionally worn, Elena wanted nothing more in that moment than to rest of the bulk of her strife.
Everything else could wait, matters of the heart included.
"Can I.. rest here awhile?" She asked knowing the answer to it already. Damon wouldn't deny her a thing, not even if it troubled Effie that she stayed. Elena only asked because she didn't really have anywhere else to go that wouldn't remind her of all the bad things she'd done as an emotionless vampire.