Standing beneath the rain drops, I feel the breeze on my skin and look to the stars, I feel the calm of the night around me and breathe in I no longer sleep. I walk the quiet streets of home and search for my place in this world. I search for where I can bring myself calm again closing my eyes to the cool water flowing over my skin, the rain mixing with my tears I feel my legs crumble beneath me.
I'm dying on the inside and keep smiling. Looking around me I see the cool grey of broken and forgotten stones. The graveyard once more. There before me I see the names of those gone before me. Those who were loved and lost to this town and wonder when my name will be carved into the granite Sitting across from one, I see 'SALVATORE' and several names.
My eyes are drawn to the three I know so well. Giuseppe, Damon and Stefan I can't help the wry smile crossing my lips as I see 'amato padre' beneath Giuseppe.. How he could be seen as a beloved father to the me he killed in his naive way of loving and protecting this town. My mind wandered as I thought of them holed up together, grieving and hating one another for what had happened to Elena. To us all... Knowing Stefan, he'd be hiding in his room with his leather clad diary. I hoped that was the case, because my fragile mind, my broken heart for the friend I had lost couldn't cope with the Ripper. Then there was Damon the dark eyes would be filled with anger and pain but he'd wear that mask as always. The brash arrogance that was so very much walls around a broken soul that needed saving even if he refused. Catching my breath I realized that we were so alike, he would protect those around us without thought and question. He would ask for nothing in return but to be given peace for a brief moment. My body curled up, sheltering from the cold.
Yet I knew it wasn't the cold in the air, not the freezing rain that was chilling me to the very core but the knowledge that there was someone out there I could relate too. Someone out there who would understand the darkness and delicate fingers of fear creeping into my soul at what else would come our way. Damon would see why I feared the mornings, why sleep was now my enemy because it only gave brief respite from the nightmares we faced in the waking hours. ... The irony of me made me laugh, a sound I'd missed even if there was no humour in my tone. Of all the people a witch would relate to, it would be the vampire who although sworn to protect my lineage, was one who had tried to kill me. Who looked at me with hatred when I challenged and matched him in arguments. Smiling softly I stood, the flowers I'd picked as I'd walked under the moonlight to my destination and moved to the grave before me housing the remains of the family who had changed and shaped the town of Mystic Falls. Kneeling I brushed away the moss from the names of the sons I knew so well now and spoke]
"Giuseppe Salvatore, you were a foolish father, a blinded man to not see the bravery, the unique qualities both of your children had and still have. I see them Giuseppe, every day fight for what the believe in and you missed out on that. Your actions only did one thing that night. You gave us two incredible people... you gave me two people that will never know this. You gave me two people I care deeply for, who I would risk my life for if I had to."
Turning at the sound of steps, I was greeted with two sets of eyes, one forest green, one deep blue they were staring at me as I knelt in the rain
"Thank you" came from the elder Salvatore and I smiled as I stood.