Chapter 1: Prologue: The Beginning
January 15th, 1924
Dear Elena,
I miss you so so much! Life is really rather boring here without my partner in crime. Who am I kidding, it's Chicago! Still, I have yet to find someone who is as handy with a hair pin as you! I can't believe I haven't seen you since Klaus and I got hitched. I should fill you in on all the gossip from the joint; Klaus is a big cheese up here! All these flapper's think I'm some cunning Chippy who is only using him to get his money. They are completely wrong of course, his money is only one of his many 'talents' so to speak, if you get what I mean!
Oh Elena, I miss you so. It's bad enough I had to spend Christmas without you. Still, different lives, and all that! I'd love for you to come stay with us up here, but it's a little too dangerous. Or at least that's what my husband has been telling me. With all the gangs and such. All these milk men and jazz broads may live in the 20th century, but they are nothing like my old, Mystic Falls, bestest girl! But I just can't face coming back yet. My parents are probably still fuming that I got married without their permission to an 'unsuitable' gentleman. I tried writing, but of course got nothing in return. Father probably checks mothers correspondences.
Enough of that horrible stuff, what do you say we meet up somewhere in the middle? Like, Louisville, or Cincinnati! Or if you're not feeling too adventurous, Charlottesville? It's been too long since I have seen you! Let me know what you think so I can inform Klaus and start making travel plans!
All my love,
Caroline.
At the time, Elena had just brushed off Caroline's written antics as her best friend showing off her fancy new slang from her bright, new, colourful, married life. Ignoring the comment of Chicago being 'too dangerous' for her, it was something to be addressed at a later date. Elena didn't get a chance to write a response to Caroline. Instead another letter followed.
January 29th, 1924
My dearest Elena,
I write to you today with my sincerest deepest regrets and condolences over recent events. Bonnie wrote to me informing me of your parents death, and I am so sorry. I don't know if there is anything I can do or offer you to make you feel a smidgen better, and I am sure in typical fashion I will make you feel even worse or offended than at the start of my letter.
I'm sure the last thing you want to hear about is the latest hoopla up here, but I don't have much more to offer you. If it would help you to get away from Mystic Falls for a while, we could do that meet in the middle thing I wrote about last time. For however long you want! Once everything is dealt with, with your parents I mean. Oh, now I'm talking apple sauce! There I go making it sound like your parents need to be dealt with. What did I tell ya?
Still, I am getting a little carried away. I'll do whatever I can to help you through this dreadful time. You have my love, prayers, and thoughts with not only you, but your family at this dreadful time, and I wish you well.
All my love, now and forever,
Caroline.
It was on January 19th 1924, that Elena lost her parents to car crash on Wickery Bridge. She could still remember the evening vividly. How her parents were going to Mayor Lockwood's mansion for a dinner party, how her brother Jeremy, was a little too young to go, and how Elena had a cold from the winter weather and could not attend. It was in the early hours of the morning that Elena awoke to the ringing of the bell at the front door. Rolling over, knowing that their maid Abby would hear the door from the servants quarters and answer who ever was uncivilised enough that they could not wait until the morning.
It wasn't until she was being called awake by a shaking, teary eyed Abby that Elena knew something was wrong. Her heart dropped and a feeling of dread ensued, she was quickly wrapped up in her robe and brought to the lounge where her anxious pajama-clad brother and the Sheriff James Forbes was awaiting her, a grave expression on his typically stern face.
"Ms. Gilbert, there's been an accident."
Elena blanked out at that moment. The expression on the Sheriff's face, his terse body language all spelled out that there wasn't good news. She would later find out it had been a drunk driver, a sixteen year old from the next town over, who had stolen their parents car, not only not knowing how to drive, but had gotten hopped up on bath tub gin. The collision had sped her parents car into the water below, and that a shop keep had found the site of the accident in the early morning.
The next week passed in a haze of condolences, sympathy food, and the arrival of her aunt Jenna and her new husband Mr. Saltzman; Ric. He told Elena and Jeremy at some point or another to call him Ric. Along with their arrival came the funeral. Glossy twin oak caskets laid on opposite sides of each other, and in the middle of the twin coffins stood the Priest. Reverend Thomas had known not only Elena for all of her life, but her parents for all of theirs as well, so it was only fitting he performed the service. Most of the church service went by in a blur, it wasn't until Elena was stood at the grave site, and the cold wind was whipping at her cheeks that she fully understood what was happening. She felt her brothers hand in hers, gripping tightly through her glove, her aunts hand on her back, the pressure felt as though it was permeating through her mothers black wool coat.
Whilst the coat kept her warm, and her dark cloche hat protected her ears from the wretched weather, Elena still felt the cold in her bones. The loss, the heart ache, the feeling of pure dread and denial seemingly travelled through her body, moving to her brain, making her want to shout and scream over how this couldn't be true! The coffins were empty, her parents were waiting for her at home! Only they weren't. Instead she clutched Jeremy's hand even tighter.
It wasn't until later that evening, wearing her night gown, cuddled up in a blanket, and staring vacantly out of the window that Elena even registered receiving Caroline's latest letter 'I'll do whatever I can to help you through this dreadful time.' This made Elena perk up a little. Get away from Mystic Falls. Go to 'dangerous' Chicago. The life, a new city, a new start. Jazz. Elena traced the wooden panes of her window with her eyes, following the straight predictable lines as her mind raced with possibilities. Get away from Mystic Falls. Get away from drunk 16 year olds and dead parents.
It was with this thought that Elena Gilbert's life as she knew it would change.
