Curled on the bed, Elena struggled just to focus on one thing that would center her. It would have been easy to focus on the rage and hatred she held for Katherine, but she'd already seen that would get her nowhere. She didn't have it in her to hate. Her heart felt barren, like a desert waiting for the slightest chance of rain. She knew it would come eventually, yearned for it, but could do nothing.
Thundering steps of the man she had wronged, amongst many others, stirred her from the near catatonic state she was in. Slowly sitting up, Elena pressed the heels of her palms against her eyes to dry them. It felt useless. She should have been focusing on the love she had for her friends, for--
Elena disrupted her own thoughts to muster up some semblance of a smile at the sight of Damon. Comforted in part by his presence beside her, Elena found herself leaning against him as she took the glass from his hand. Staring at the liquid first, seconds passed before she brought it tentatively to her lips and drank down more than a fair sip.
"I'll be okay," she said softly, too ridden with guilt to look him in the eyes. If Elena were certain of anything righ thenn, it was that she could speak her mind around Damon and he would listen just like he always had. "I know. I just don't know how to be right now. Do I have to be?"