Josie
Worst. Birthday. Ever. Seriously, I was a mess. My mom was back from the dead, Lizzie had slept with the only guy I have any feelings for and I was missing my own freaking birthday party. I mean, come on! The party had already started and here I was in my pjs in my dorm room. It felt like I was forgotten, like it wasn't even my birthday but Lizzie's. I took a deep breath. Then another. This is fine. I'm not really a party person anyway. That kind of thing doesn't matter to me. Nope. Not at all. I was about to flop into bed and call it a night when I noticed something red under my pillow.
Hope your birthday wishes come true,
Hope
Enclosed with the envelope I had pulled from my pillow was this note and a necklace. I smiled. Someone had thought of me and not Lizzie today. I'd never minded sharing everything with my twin but, for whatever reason, I didn't want to share Hope with her. She can't have everything. I put on the necklace immediately and continued to smile to myself. It really means a lot to have this chain around my neck, offering comfort and support. It felt like Hope was right there with me, making me stronger. Penelope arrived, right on time. As soon as I'm happy, she shows right back up to bring me down. I wasn't going to deal with her today. I wanted to go see my mom who was waiting in Dads office. And at this point, not even she could run in this birthday. I had a necklace from a true friend and people who love me.
Elena
Worst. Birthday. Ever. My boyfriend has gone on a murderous rampage thanks to Klause, and there are all of these people here for me when I just want to be alone. I'm standing, lost in thoughts about Stefan, staring at my reflection in the mirror. Same long hair and sad eyes as always were staring back at me. How could I try to be happy right now? Does Stefan even know that it's my Birthday? Does he care? Or is there no humanity left in him at all? God, why does everyone I love get taken away? It's not fair. I have a right, as a human being to have love in my life without this agony that always comes with it. Suddenly, Damon is standing behind me, looking at my reflection as well.
"Damon? What do you want?" I ask, stuttering with shock. He held out a small black box to me, looking down at his shoes. I opened it and inside was my necklace. The one that Stefan had given me, the very thing that symbolized hope that Stefan would come back to me. Damon, who loved me, was giving me the one thing that gave me hope for someone else. Ij was overwhelmed by the selflessness of this gift, and overjoyed to have my necklace back. And yet, I sas aware how this was hurting Damon. But he had done it anyway. Finally, he looked up at me. He looked so vulnerable, so pure in that moment. I touched my hand to my necklace and turned so that he could secure it behind my neck. Then I turned again, inches from his face. And I knew. I knew that in this moment, I loved Damon Salvatore. And he loved me. And my birthday had just gotten a little less awful.