As I lay here dying I think about her, the one girl I ever truly loved. Her smile, her laugh, her beauty. Things I will never see again.

She will never know how much I loved her, but it's probably for the best. I never deserved someone as pure and kind as her, I'm just a monster.

Another wave of excruciating pain runs up my arm and into my body. I clench my teeth but nothing can stop the cry of pain I let out.

I've never felt so weak, so helpless. I'm a vampire for gods sake! I'm supposed to be immortal! But one small werewolf bite has undone all that.

There's no hope for me anymore, nothing can be done. My only wish was to protect her and I've failed.

I close my eyes and give in to the pain. I am nothing anymore, I am worthless.

"Damon!"

I hear her sweet melodic voice, but it sounds so far away I'm sure I'm dreaming. Hallucinating, that must be it.

"Damon, oh my god!"

Now her voice is closer, I open my eyes and see her standing in the doorway.

"Elena," I rasp out, but it turns into a coughing fit.

"It's okay," she says, stroking my forehead. Wait, when did she get onto the bed?

"Elena- I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," I desperately ramble, I need to tell her.

"Shh," she tried to stop me "don't talk, it's okay."

"No, no- it's not okay! I failed you, I failed."

"Damon, shh, what did you fail? I don't understand,"

"I-I broke my promise, and I'm sorry."

"What promise?" She asks, looking sad and confused.

"I promised myself, I promised I would protect you."

"You didn't fail me Damon, but why would you make that promise?" She asks, a tear escaping and running down her face. I use some of my last remaining strength to wipe it off.

"Elena," I desperately beg her to understand.

"What is is Damon?"

"I love you, I always did! I tried to stay away but-but I couldn't! You love My brother and I know you'll never care for me but I-i had to say it once," I ramble, out of breath, and end in a coughing fit yet again.

"Hey, shh," she says, rubbing my back gently "you're wrong,"

"Wh-what?" I don't understand what she's saying.

"I care about you," and then she's leaning down and pressing her lips to mine.

At least I got to kiss her once.

"I'm so sorry this happened to you," she says, her face still close to mine.

"I'm not," I admit to her, "I'm a monster and deserve to die. The world will be better off without me."

"Damon no! Don't ever say that!" She cries "sure, you've done bad things but haven't we all? You are a good person Damon, and the world will miss you. I'll miss you."

Another wave of pain overtakes me, this one stronger that the last. A few tears escape me, something that hasn't happened for decades.

Elena is right there to wipe them away. I want to tell her that her attempts are futile, that there is no way to save me but I can't.

The pain is becoming worse and I know my time is up.

"I love you Lena," I say, before my eyes slowly start drifting shut. The last thing I see is her beautiful face all covered in tears before my eyes close.

I think I hear a faint "I love you," but I probably just imagined it.