After Damon handed Elena's necklace back, he disappeared as fast as he could. He left her window open with the wind blowing in. Damon knew that Elena would think that Stefan was in her bedroom and not he, Damon.
Damon took the shape of a crow and perched outside her window. He watched as she got dressed into her sleep clothes. Elena reminded Damon of Katherine only physically. But emotionally, this was the woman that Damon longed Katherine to be.
Now it's over. Damon thought quietly as he watched her climb into bed. I told her I loved her. I know that I don't deserve her love. I know she will always pick Stefan over me. Just like Katherine. He couldn't stop the anger of being denied by both women sweep over him.
For a split second, Damon wanted to go back in there, and tell her all over again that he loved her. But what would that accomplish? Elena couldn't love a monster like him. Stefan only puts up with him, and Katherine only used him to get to Stefan.
Damon took flight after Elena fell asleep. He did one circle around the old house and silently flew away from her. Away from the woman who had his heart.
The night was cold and the stars were out. Funny, you always remember the smallest details in the end. Damon thought to himself. He silently landed and changed back to his human shape outside the cemetery. The headstones were silent watches of the night, mocking him. He always hated the cemetery. With all the maple trees, oak trees, and redwoods surrounding it. Maybe it wasn't how the cemetery looked, but the simple knowledge that he belonged there.
No monster should be able to live as long as I have. Damon thought to himself as he silently walked past the gravestones. And yet, he wasn't truly a monster. He only did the things he did to protect himself and Stefan. Even when he killed Jeremy, it wasn't for the fun of it. Damon just thought it would be easier for Elena if she had a reason to hate him. But Damon knew that even if he didn't try to kill Jeremy, she would still love Stefan.
If I had Elena at my side, it wouldn't matter what others thought of me. If only she could look at the man behind the beast, I could go on living. Damon stopped at three, worn, moss covered grave stones. These were the stones that marked the end of the Salvator line that lived here in Mystic Falls over a hundred and fifty years ago.
The letters were worn, so people forgot who was buried here. Or rather, who wasn't. But Damon's memory was long. Off to the left was buried his father. And the other two plots were for him and his brother.
Damon's gravestone was broken in two. Just like his heart. He sat down on his plot and looked at the stars. If only Elena could love me. Damon closed his eyes and listened to the night air.
Dawn was approaching fast. Damon took of his ring and ran his fingers around his family's crest. What's the point in living? Damon thought miserably. It's not like any one needs me. Elena and Stefan have each other. He can protect her better than I can. No one will miss me.
The first sign of dawn came not all at once, but slowly. First the blackness of night lightened to grey. Then the sky started to turn pink and purple with hints of yellow.
Damon knew that dying here in the cemetery wouldn't hurt as much as living with a broken heart. And in the end, it didn't. Damon died there, on his plot with Elena's name on his lips.