Hello readers,

I am posting the very first chapter of this story, hope you all like it. No Damon in this chapter, but please, bear with me.

I do not own TVD or the characters, but this story is my own.

Raindrops clashing with the glass, the wiper blades at full force, trying to wipe the relentless water from the windshield. But everything seems to fall short, because the angry looking sky has burst, expressing all its rage upon us in the form of torrential downpour.

I am on the backseat but the heavy rainfall has made everything look so hazy that it is difficult to see the road. I clench my fists on my lap, mom looks worried too, but dad is trying to maintain his calm and concentrating on the drive. Suddenly, there is a jolt and we are startled. Immediately, I reach for my dad's seat, mom is clutching his arm in a vice grip, dad slows down the car and looks at me with a smile, "Don't worry baby I won't let anything happen to you both."

I smile at him, feeling a bit relieved and calm at his words, he just knows the right things to say whenever I am nervous. My mom nods at me, the corners of her lips curled upwards into a peaceful expression and I know that as long as they are with me I will never have to worry about anything. But, it's not even a second later, that a loud honking can be heard and within mere moments I feel myself flying, the car spins and crashes on the ground and all I can hear is the sound of glass breaking, metal crashing, more raindrops and the shrieks ,grunts and then nothing...It's all dark and I feel hollow inside.

All of a sudden, I woke up on my bed, my bed sheet soaked in cold sweat, my hand extended forward, as if trying to reach for someone and my eyes filled with tears, which were now flowing down the sides of my face. I desperately tried to search for them, but realized that, it was a nightmare once again. It had been one year, but it still hurt like hell, I kept dreaming about the day that I lost them, my parents, the two people who loved me unconditionally. I reached for the photo frame on my bedside table, my heart clenched with grief at the sight of their happy faces smiling at me.

I miss them so much, but I know they would hate to see me sad and I also have to take care of Jer. He lost them too, although I am thankful that he didn't have to wake up almost every night after having nightmares of them screaming, gasping for air. I wish I could go back and change that moment, not for me, but for them, for Jeremy, I mean, he is still a kid, he deserves to have a happy and carefree life. But, it is very rare when things are under our control and sometimes no matter how much we try to make up for the loses, nothing is enough. So, I drifted these thoughts to the back of my mind and started the day by writing a small note in my diary. I promised myself to work harder and build a new identity.

Just then, I could smell coffee and eggs and realized that Aunt Jenna was preparing breakfast for us. She knew that Jer had to leave for his classes and I had an interview today. I felt grateful for having an aunt like her, she took us under her care after my parents had passed away, and helped me immensely with my daily chores. Yes, after the accident I was told that I couldn't walk, neither was there any certainty of whether, I would be able to walk, ever again. It was as if, my legs were paralyzed due to the accident. So, the doctors had recommended a wheelchair for me, they had even prescribed physiotherapy for a month.

At first, I thought maybe, with time, I would heal and I would be able to walk again, but weeks and months kept passing by and nothing helped. Not only was my life disrupted due to my physical limitations, but also I had to completely let go of my career as a model, because who would have a wheelchair ridden model campaign for them, or become a part of their magazine. Thus, I started staying at home more and Jenna always supported me, she never complained, rather always encouraged me to go out again and start living a little.

But, facing all these setbacks made me feel dejected, I started losing hope of seeing better days. It was then, that both Jenna and Bonnie almost forced me to see a therapist. According to them, I had accepted defeat too easily, they wanted me to become the 'normal' and happy Elena Gilbert once again. So, I started seeing my therapist twice a week and it would not be incorrect to say that it helped me to look past the sadness. I could now see how much my gloominess was affecting my near ones. Jenna, who worked selflessly for us, Jer, who was trying to take up my responsibilities, acting like a big brother himself, Bonnie who was putting in so much of her time and energy to keep me happy and diverted.

It was then, that I decided to look past every little drawback and start living for them. Even if I couldn't walk, I could do a lot of other things, so, the time for pity party had to be over. I started writing again, because, as far as I could remember, when I was small, I wanted to be a writer. But, it never happened as my parents wanted different things for me, and some where down the line, I guess I gave up writing too. During my middle school days, I had the habit of maintaining a diary, but as I grew up, I lost interest in writing and became inclined towards hanging out with my friends and going to outdoor trips with my family.

Dad had always wanted me to be a doctor like him, and mom made me participate in every pageant and beauty contest and exhorted me towards modelling from a pretty young age. So, I think it was the popularity and the glam lifestyle that had attracted me towards itself and I continued modelling as a profession, which was going very smoothly until last year. I had become a well known face in Mystic Falls and in the nearby towns too. But now all that was over, most people that I worked with earlier had told me to get well soon and had moved on, some looked at me with pitiful eyes and told me they were sorry, but no one extended a friendly hand towards me. That made me realize, how fake the world of popularity is. It breaks faster, than the time it takes to make it.

Without any more delay, I moved towards my wardrobe to select clothes for the impending interview. I had to look good, not in a glamorous way, but, more in a sophisticated manner. Looking for something that would compliment my personality, I selected a pair of navy blue trousers and an off-white dress shirt. Heading towards the bathroom, I heard Aunt Jenna calling me. She knocked at my door once and entered the room, I looked up with a smile and she reciprocated it.

"Ready to get dressed and head out?",she asked quirking one eyebrow and wringing her hands in front of her. I nodded swiftly and showed her the clothes I had picked out. Sensing that I was somewhat nervous, she bent forwards and ran her hand on my hair kissing the top of my head. I closed my eyes and sighed deeply, it was such a simple action, yet, even I didn't realize how much I needed it. This reminded me of mom, Jenna was so much like her, the same smile, same warmth and similar glittering eyes. " Thank you aunt Jenna," I held her hand that was on my shoulder now, and looked upwards, my eyes filled with happy tears, "for everything that you have done for me, I would be a lost cause if not for you, I love you."

Jenna's eyes looked more glittery now, I knew she had felt what I said, but she quickly blinked the tears away and understanding my somber tone she tried to uplift the mood. "It's all you baby girl, now get going, and don't be nervous because I am sure you would win them over at once, with your killer smile." She tilted her head to one side and winked at me with a smirk, I giggled at her shaking my head and went ahead to the bathroom. "Be quick, breakfast is ready" was all that could be heard before the door closed on its own.

Changing my clothes took some time, but with time and practice, I sometimes managed to do that myself. Looking at the mirror, I applied some makeup just to enhance my natural features. Personally, I never liked applying too much makeup, even when I had to shoot, I liked keeping my look minimal, which again did not sit well with most of the ad directors, sometimes they insisted rather ordered for a heavily made-up look. Today I wanted the world to see 'me' and not the earlier version of Elena Gilbert. So, I just combed my soft curls and applied some mascara. Finally, applying some lip balm I completed my look.

It was already late, so, I quickly headed to the kitchen. The divine smell engulfed me and made my stomach rumble. Jenna welcomed me, with a plate of scrambled eggs and toast and also a cup of coffee. I swiftly adjusted my wheelchair with the table and started eating. Meanwhile, Jeremy came down the stairs and nodded at me with his lips curled into a smile, "Hey Lena." I furrowed my eyebrows together with a lopsided grin and asked him," Hey, what's with you today? You never seem so cheery at this early hour. Is there something we should know or maybe a 'someone'?", I gave him a knowing smile and Aunt Jenna who had picked up on what I was saying came out of the kitchen excitedly and said, " So did you finally ask Bonnie out, on a date?" She stretched the last part into a sing-song tune.

Jeremy glanced at me and back at Jenna with wide and horrified eyes, and suddenly realizing what she had said, Jenna clasped her lips together and looked at me as if a child caught in the act of doing something naughty. My mouth must have been agape until now, cause Aunt Jenna literally had to shut it by placing her hand under my chin and moving my lower jaw upwards. It was a shock, my brother and my best friend? Oh my god, I was feeling giddy. I wanted to give Bonnie the tightest hug, it was perfect, all the people I loved, loved each other. Okay, that was the weirdest thing to say or hear. But, I was too excited for normalcy now.

"Lena, please say something." Jeremy was looking at me with innocent, googly eyes that I could never say no to. He continued, "I wanted to tell you, but I didn't know how to say it, hell I didn't know when I started to feel something for Bonnie, I mean I know that she is your best friend and also older than me, but it just happened you know, in the past weeks she visited, we just got to talking on some days and we just connected,you know? It felt like she understood me, I mean it just felt right... ugh, I don't even know why I am saying all this...Lena?"

Jer looked as if he was going to burst, his cheeks and ears all red. I was feeling bad for making him feel stupid but when would I get another chance to pull his leg? "Did she agree?", I asked, staring at him with a straight face and a grim expression. "Sorry?", he sounded clueless, and it made me want to burst out laughing. But again, I said with a cold expression, "Did she say yes to go on a date with you or not?"

Jer, who was looking down now almost seemed afraid to answer but he lifted his head a little and told, "Yes, but it is just one date and if you think... " I went forward with a smile and held his hand, "I am happy for you Jer. For both of you, and if you feel that this is right I will never want you to back down from it." Hearing this, he immediately bent down and hugged me, "Really Lena? Thank you so much." It felt so good, seeing everyone this happy, I felt a lot better than I had felt after waking up.

So, I continued, "Of course Jer, but, that is totally not happening because, I am so excited for this, my best friend and my little brother. Oh, I will make Bonnie suffer for hiding such an amazing thing from me." I said with a big grin. Now, that I looked at Jenna, she looked relieved, "See? I knew it was a good idea to tell Elena about this, you were getting worried for nothing", she said confidently, looking at Jeremy with a relaxed smirk. At once, his face looked flushed and he shook his head to indicate that he was not at all worried about something so trivial. I smiled to myself as he picked up an apple from the basket and left the house saying, "Now, you ladies continue to gossip and bond on this good old handsome man. I have to run to class, and good luck Lena, for today, I know you will smash it."

Jenna had almost begun to protest against him leaving without having breakfast, when we heard the car whoosh away. So, she gave a defeated sigh and went back to the kitchen, but, I didn't fail to notice the hint of smile on her face. After this, even I bid her farewell and headed out, she hugged me and told me to be safe. I returned her hug and told her not to worry about me.

Finally, I went down the ramp that had been constructed a few months ago, because, moving up and down the stairs in a wheelchair was totally impossible and was proving to be hectic not only for me but also for the others. Sometimes, Jer had to carry me down and it was getting embarrassing and wearisome, so we decided to modify the stairs and build a ramp beside it. On reaching the front lawn, I unlocked my car and went into it through the back door. It was customized for wheel chair riders, I had exchanged my old car for this one, because at least this made me feel a little independent and I no longer had to ask someone to drive me, every time that I needed to go out. Getting into the driver's position, I settled down and took a deep breath, turning on the ignition I waved at Jenna who was waving at me from the porch. Finally, I started my journey, in hope, that I will never have to look back again.

What do you think about the first chapter? Please, write a review. :)