5 months

It has been 5 months since the ritual. Elena is as happy as she can be. Her friends are always there for her. And her relationship with her boyfriend i. e. Stefan is going great.

She's 18 now. Alaric tried to leave and practically run away from everything but she and Jeremy found there way the other way around. Everything was calm and nice. But a certain someone was missing.

Damon

Damon left. But before he did. He had paid elena one last visit. His last words still rang in head.

'I know I don't deserve your forgiveness... but I need it' he pleaded

'I can't just forget it like that Damon, I...i just need some time' she said

'yeah, of course, take as much time as you need' he said after some time

And that was it. He just left. Truthfully, first she was too angry to care. Then she was sure he'll come back after sometime. But he didn't.

Stefan had told her about their little chat and she could see the guilt of pushing away his brother like that.

She knew Damon and stefan used to be really close when they were human. That was destroyed when katherine came and brought all her vampire drama along with her. Now after so many years things were a little maybe a lot better between both brothers.

Stefan had tried to contact his brother but it did not worked. So he just gave up thinking he ruined everything again.

But he still tries. Cause there's still hope.

Suprisingly enough. Alaric also is major name in the list of people who missed Damon. Apparently the the vampire hunter who initially became who he is for the sole purpose to kill said vampire had become genuinely good friends. He tried contacting Damon too but that didn't work either.

Rest had more like a love hate relationship with the older Salvatore.

Almost everyone else considers Damon as a frenemy.