In the Land of Sorrow
Chapter 1
Elena Gilbert never thought in a million years that she would end up here. Usually she loved suiting in churches to just pray and think about lives many mysteries, but she never thought she would be here for a funeral of someone who had literally saved her life.
Tears flowed down Elena's cheeks as she prayed to God for the pain to stop. She heard that over time the pain would get better, but pain was the worst feeling in the world. On a scale from one to ten this pain was an eleven threatening to consume her and take her down with it. Why did he have to die? That was one thing she would never know. Now all she had left of Damon was memories.
She looked down at the folded up flag on her lap and cried with a sad smile. Ten beautiful years of her life had been shattered with one bullet. A bullet that Damon had no doubt took with honor. Elena looked up to the sky with tears rushing down her face. She would never forget Damon Salvatore and the memories would always be there consuming her like as if they had just happened yesterday.
Five years earlier
Elena extended her arm to place away yet another book on the shelf. Usually she loved working at her little book shop, but she hated when customers never put them back in there right place. It shouldn't have annoyed her that much but somehow it did. She sighed and climbed off the ladder only to be surprised by a man when she came down. In the midst of all her complaining she hadn't noticed the man and his piercing blue eyes, but there was something about him that peaked Elena's interest.
"Oh hello there. Is there something I can help you with?"
"I'm sorry if this offends you, but has anyone told you you're beautiful."
She laughed. She had plenty of men tell her that before, but they had never been so blunt about it before.
"Some have actually, but I actually don't keep count. Hi, I'm Elena Gilbert."
"Damon Salvatore."
Elena smiled as she shook his hand. He had a firm grip which Elena loved in a man.
"So Damon Salvatore is there anything I could help you with?"
"Yes actually. I'm going back to base in a couple of days and I need a little light reading until we get our orders. You know just to pass the time."
"You're in the army."
"Air Force actually, but that was a good guess."
"Well Mr. Salvatore. Do you prefer the classics?"
"I can be a huge fan of the classics yes."
"I'll see what I can do for you."
He smiled at her as Elena went to go find him a book earning her an eye roll from Caroline. Elena never understood why Caroline was so bitter, but Elena always had better luck with the guys. Elena found the book she was looking for and headed back to Damon handing the boom over.
"The Scarlet Letter. Interesting choice." He said smiling.
"Well it will give you and your unit something to discuss."
"Good call."
"Anything else I could do for you Damon?"
"Well I am here for a couple more days and you seem like a very interesting person. I would like to take you out on a date. If you don't mind my asking."
Elena grabbed the book back from damon and opened it up to the card they kept in there with checkout information and wrote her number down.
"I would love that Mr. Salvatore. Call me sometime and maybe we could arrange something."
Damon smirked and gave her a quick goodbye before leaving.
"Are you crazy? Could you be anymore desperate?" Caroline said flipping through the pages of her book.
"Oh Caroline stop being such a Debbie downer. He seemed really nice and I would like to give him a chance."
"Whatever you say Elena whatever you say."
Elena rolled her eyes and glanced out the store window. She didn't know what it was about Damon Salvatore, but she couldn't wait to get to know him better.