White Rose – Damon's POV
Damon stood over Elena, gently stroking her cheek as she slept. He recalled the first time he had done this, back when she had first stirred something in him, some feeling that he had thought he was incapable of having for anyone but Katherine.
He'd long since learned the error of his foolish love for the selfish, manipulative vampire. But she made a useful excuse to give to Stefan as to why he just had to leave town right now, just after they had won the day against Klaus.
He laid his parting gift to the sleeping girl gently down on her pillow. The single white rose was beautiful, perfect. Just like her, he thought.
Roses always made him think of his mother, and he smiled at the thought that she would have liked Elena. Perhaps that was why he'd never given Katherine a rose – even when he'd been head over heels for her, he'd always known that his love for her was a thing of the dark – a reckless, selfish passion with a wild, inappropriate woman.
Elena was a creature of the light. Her very name meant it.
He reflected on the meaning of the white rose. It was a symbol of purity and innocence. Of true love. Of a farewell, or a new beginning. Of youth, and young love. To give one was a sign of love, friendship, respect and hope.
He felt every one of those as he took one last look at the love of his life before he turned and blurred out her window, closing it securely behind himself.
He wanted more than anything on this earth to stay with her, but he didn't think he was strong enough to keep the promise he had made to her the night he compelled her to forget his confession of love. He was trying to be the better man, for her. To give her up to Stefan because she deserved someone good like his little brother, rather than a broken and twisted mess such as himself.
If he stayed, it would be too hard not to try to take something for himself, to press her to give more than she was capable of giving him. He was at heart a selfish creature, he knew. He'd given in to temptation before, and it had damned him.
He had no idea where he would go, or what he would do. His life without her was empty. But her life without him would be happy, at least.
He held onto that thought as he headed onto the main road out of Mystic Falls, leaving his hometown for the last time.
The white rose was also his own personal white flag of surrender.
The End.
Author's Note: The meaning of a white rose is at wiki answers dot com Q/What_is_the_meaning_of_a_white_rose
In this story, Elena will miss Damon, but she will go on happily with Stefan. I believe if Damon stays, he will win her over eventually (my other story Worth Waiting For is on that very topic). This story is about what would happen if he left now, before she has really fallen for him.