Dear diary,

A lot of people talk about how one person can feel lonely even when surrounded by others. I can attest how true that is. Today I felt exactly the same. I'm surrounded by amazing people who love me and who I love deeply. However, there is still something missing. I had to find out what it was…

Jenna called Elena after the pizza got delivered, but didn't get any answer. She went to her room and saw Elena fast asleep by her window seat. Jenna couldn't bring herself to wake her. She needed some rest and they could always reheat the pizza later. Jenna picked up a blanket and tucked Elena. It broke her heart to see her like this, so fragile and weak. What she didn't know was how strong her niece is, and has been. Who could imagine that, through some months of real inactivity, someone could grow up so much and get so strong with just a simple dream? It would never cross anyone's mind. Elena could look tired, fragile and weak, but this girl was becoming more of a woman day by day. She is growing up, stronger and tougher. Elena would always be caring, compassionate and full of love. But now she knew who to give it all to. During those adventures in her dream, she came to realize that not everyone is worthy of all her kindness. She might look ordinary, but she was truly extraordinary as someone had once pointed out.

By morning time the house was full of life. There were dishes clattering, glasses clinking, the smell of fried bacon and scrambled eggs was hanging in the air. Elena woke up disoriented with all these sounds coming from the kitchen. While getting herself up she noticed she was not where she thought she was. She distinctively remembers being by her window seat last night. However, she just woke up in her bed still dressed. Apparently she slept all night on top of her made bed with just a small blanket comforting her. Her diary was closed in her bed side table and the cute, yet slightly embarrassing, teddy bear was sitting next to her pillow. This was disconcerting but Elena thought Jeremy might have taken her to bed, so that she was more comfortable.

After freshening herself up, Elena went downstairs to see what was going on.

"Oh my God! Elena!"

She had barely gone through the kitchen door when Caroline screamed and ran to hug her friend.

"Wow, hi Caroline."

"How are you? Are you ok? Did you sleep well? Do you need anything?"

"Yes, I need you to breathe, ok?" Elena said with a smile.

Coming behind Caroline was Bonnie. This time it was Elena running towards her to give her a very warming hug. These two didn't need words to know how appreciative they were of each other.

"So, what's for breakfast?" Elena asked.

Everyone was there to welcome Elena home. There was Jenna and Jeremy, Bonnie, Caroline and, of course, Matt. While each of them was choosing their seat, there was something Elena couldn't help but notice. There was one special person missing. She hadn't yet realized that this whole ordeal meant Alaric wasn't real as well. It wasn't only about people not being dead or supernatural. It was also about some people not existing at all. At this moment, Elena was surprised with the ridiculousness of her thoughts. After all, the Salvatores wouldn't exist too. However, something rooted deep inside was telling her otherwise. Besides, nobody cared for Damon or Stefan the way she did. But Alaric was different. Elena knew how right he was for Jenna. How happy he could make her, even if she hadn't met him. Maybe, and very probably, Elena was just daydreaming. Oh the irony! She was recalling the happiness between those two. How each one had its own heart crushed to the bone but, somewhere along the way, they met and healed each other. It wasn't as if nothing before mattered, of course it did. It was that they had learned from it. Then, as a reward, the universe granted them each other's company, understanding and love.

Snapping out of her train of thought, Elena just remembered Ric and everything he did for her and Jeremy. He had become such an important person in her life. Elena cared for him deeply. She considered him family. How could she not? Alaric always battled her fights; he was always there for them. So now, looking at this picture unraveling in front of her, she couldn't help but miss that teacher turned hunter turned parent.

"So, Elena, what are we going to do today?" Caroline asked excited.

"I was about to go out."

"Go where?" Jenna inquired.

"It's just something I need to do."

Silence took over the room. What could have Elena such urgency to do? She had been asleep for months.

"I'm feeling a little bit lost and trapped all at the same time. I thought about going for a walk around Mystic Falls. I want to go back to everyday life. I want to see if I missed something. I just feel this need to be, you know, normal as before. I'm tired of people looking over my shoulder and whispering behind me. I'm here, I'm alive and I'm ok. If people stop treating me like a freak I'll be much more comfortable."

"So, we'll go with you." Caroline replied once again in an over excited tone.

Elena looked at her with eyes that showed a sight she couldn't release. She knew her friends were only trying to be supportive, but didn't they hear that she feels trapped?

"Care," Bonnie called "I think Elena just needs some alone time."

"What? She has been alone for months."

"Hey! I was always with her." Jeremy returned.

"She doesn't need to be alone. She needs us. What do you think she'll do Bonnie? She'll be moping, thinking about her p-"

"Shut up, Care!" Matt yelled.

"You don't know that Caroline." Bonnie spoke in a calm voice. She was trying to be reasonable and, knowing Caroline as she did, Bonnie knew she had to be serene and assertive. "I know you're worried about Elena but we all have to trust her. She did nothing to break our trust."

"And you have to stop talking as if I weren't here."

The awkward silence was back. Caroline didn't mean to sound so harsh. She genuinely worried about Elena. Unfortunately, she had a rather childish way of demonstrating it.

Matt wouldn't dare to judge. He always had this amazing ability to look over what might upset him. It didn't matter if her boyfriend was a vampire or just ordinary, if it meant that Elena was happy, we would support her. He would also keep watch, you know, in case said boyfriend hurt her. But he wouldn't oppose. He was forced to grow up quickly, living without parents. He had to take care of his older sister, Vicky. It's not that she was a bad person; she was just lost in the world. When you don't have guidance, it is easy to lose track of whom you are and where you want to go. Matt couldn't afford being like that. Without responsible parents or any other mentor or guardian, he had to be the sensible one. And that was something that showed through his relationships. If he had a girlfriend, he would plan ahead. It was what he had to do. He desperately wants to break away from this life he is set to. When Matt finds that kind of support and love, he takes it. If it is a friendship, he takes care of it, he treasures it. Because Matt knows he only has his friends to lean on.

Bonnie was more of a sister than a friend. She would judge, and she would voice her opinions. She was just careful and smart enough to choose the right moment to do so. And this time, even though she was worried her friend might lose her mind, she knew Elena needed some time for herself. There was something inside of her, she could sense that, which needed to be resolved. Bonnie decided to give today to Elena, there would be another opportunity to talk to her friend and take more direct action towards her well-being.

Jenna and Jeremy stayed mostly quiet. Jeremy wasn't one to talk big game. If Elena wanted to do something, she was free to do so. He would always be there, on the other side of the bathroom, to help her whenever she needed. As for Jenna, she wasn't one to hover. She strongly believed that, if the kids were having some disagreement or discussion, they should be given the space to resolve it among themselves. Only when it was serious enough, would Jenna take action into her own hands. Otherwise she'd let them be. She had faith in all of them to be mature enough to take care of their issues.

The happy breakfast turned into a painful moment. That was when Jeremy decided to break the heaviness hanging in the air.

"Matt, I'm ready whenever you are."

"Ready for what?" Jenna asked.

"He has been bragging about his Xbox skills all morning. I've got to show him who is the boss here." Matt replied with a childish smile.

"Well, you guys do your guy thing. I'll go to the library to work on my thesis in a peaceful and quiet environment." She said teasing them.

"Caroline, do you want to come shopping with me?" This was a stupid question and Bonnie knew it. All she wanted was to set Elena free and entertain Caroline with something she would never say "no" to. "My dad sent some money that I need to splurge."

"Of course! Let's go!" She replied enthusiastically.

They both got out of the table and said their goodbyes to Elena making her promise that if she needed anything, anything at all no matter the time, she would call them.

Elena got her opportunity. She had time alone and all Mystic Falls to wander. The question is, where would she start?

In a kind of déjà-vu moment, Elena entered the Mystic Falls Cemetery. As she walked she reminisced about what once happened there. Today she felt the need to say goodbye to her parents. A real goodbye so that she could go look for those two vampires who never left her mind.

When in front of her parents' grave, Elena fell to her knees not being able to hold the tears. She might have had time to deal with this loss; time she had no idea it was possible to have. Nevertheless, it still hurts a lot. Grayson and Miranda are dead, and there is nothing anyone can do about that. There is no dream to wake up from, no last chance of hoping for some magical solution.

A big part of Elena cried for the loss of her parents, the one's supposed to lead her through life. But there was still a small part of her that cried for the mess she was in. She hadn't had her breaking moment and this was it. She was alone and, right in front of her mom and dad, she let all her feelings flow. It was as if she was crying in their laps. Like the baby girl she once was used to do. When Elena raised her head, there was no crow or fog to run from. It was all clear, no shades or silhouettes peeking behind the statues. And, at that moment, this realization wasn't comforting at all.

Elena stood up and, in a very determined manner, she walked back home. She had to go get her car in order to drive to the one place she knew could hold proof of the existence of the two Salvatore brothers.

As she drove her way to the Boarding House, she had no idea what to expect. If Jenna is alive, that means Zach is alive too. Elena started preparing some conversation topics. She wanted to be invited into the house; she needed to know if the interior is anything like in her dream. If it is, it can only mean Stefan and Damon are real. She has never been to that place but somehow she dreamt about it. If it is the same, there has to be some veracity to her supernatural world.

Elena wished it was all the same, she longed for a sign that the boys were real, that her heart wasn't full of vain feelings. However, she was also afraid of facing the reality she found herself away from. She has just started a normal life again. What would happen if she had to, once more, face the fact that supernatural creatures exist? That she fell in love with vampires? If it is all the same, if they do exist as she so badly wishes, what does it mean that they left her abandoned after everything they all went through together? How could Damon not be by her side when he promised he would never leave her again? Why do these thoughts hurt more because of the absence of Damon in her life than because of Stefan's? Elena has no idea what to think or feel anymore. After all, she had chosen Stefan.

By the time Elena arrived at the Boarding House, the rambling going on inside her head finally stopped. She parked the car in the drive way and slowly stepped out of it. Her heart was beating so fast that even without vampire hearing she could hear it herself. She was completely scared but she had to power through it. She had to know how accurate her dream was.

With a trembling hand she knocked on the front door. Nobody answered and the house seemed quiet. Elena felt a little bit stupid. She had no idea if Zach was in town or if he had a job. She waited for a while, looked around the huge house and even tried to peek through the windows. But nobody showed up. That was when Elena decided to leave. She wouldn't give up though. She was going to find out a way to get inside this house, maybe ask someone when Zach might be at home.

Just when Elena was turning around, the door slowly opened. She turned back to face the door and there was no one in sight. Goosebumps spread across her but curiosity was greater. There was her chance, she had to take it. Slowly but surely, Elena put one foot in front of the other and stepped inside the Boarding House.

Standing at the corridor, a gasp echoed through her. It was exactly as she remembered. Elena looked for every little detail as a way to pinch herself that this is actually true. In an instant, she turned back to face the door, as expecting a crow to come in. She instantly smiled as realizing how stupid it was. Anyhow, this house was real as was everything inside of it, so she wasn't being dumb to prepare herself for any other kind of replay of her precious dream.

At this point, Elena's overwhelmed smile fell flat. She knew that when she turned her back towards the door again, he wouldn't be there.

She carefully looked up her shoulder and only emptiness remained. Turning, once again, her back fully to the door, she walked towards the living room and sit down on the steps. Elena was getting tremendously confused about why she was constantly thinking of Damon. Why did it hurt so bad not having him around, why did she miss him like this, why did everything remind her of him? Stefan was the one she was supposed to be thinking about, night and day.

During the time Elena was at the Salvatore's, staring at the huge kitsch-style room as someone once described it, she actually didn't feel crazy for the first time since the accident. She felt at peace, like the universe was starting to align.

Breaking the silence, Elena's phone rang, making her jump. She shouldn't be here. If Zach or anyone appeared, she might find herself in trouble. She wanted to gain his trust once she had properly met him. Now that she was here she didn't want to leave. Elena had to find a way to come to the Salvatore's more often.

When Elena got home, luckily nobody asked questions. The three of them had dinner together and she excused herself to her bedroom.

Elena felt tired but she couldn't sleep. She could only think about how her hope was restored. Now, more than ever, she knew Damon and Stefan had to be real. This was all the proof she needed.

Everything was agitated inside her so, to help her sleep and relax, she decided to take one of the pills Dr. Rose had prescribed her. Meanwhile, she picked up her diary and, sliding inside her bed, she started scribbling down the thoughts running through her mind.

After purging herself into her diary, Elena fell sound asleep. The day had been eventful. However, what she didn't expect was to find him, in her dreams, once again…

"Hello, Elena."

Elena gasped, she was afraid of turning around. Did she really hear him?

"Elena…"

She heard him again, followed by some footsteps in her direction. She couldn't release her breath. She was afraid of getting disappointed.

Once the footsteps stopped, she felt a single tear scrolling down her right cheek. There was absolutely no sound. It could only mean she was clearly hearing things and imagining it all in her mind, again. Letting her breath go she relaxed her body. For a second she thought that he was alive, that he was real. At that point, she turned around just to stare at the empty space between her bed and her window. Surprisingly, that space wasn't empty after all…

When I was at the cemetery today, I felt alone. I thought that somehow I could find something familiar. Right there, in front of my parents, I expected not only to feel their love, but also to feel the presence of Damon and Stefan. It was only later that I realized I'm not alone at all. I can still feel the gaze of those blue eyes upon me. It can all be clouded by foggy thoughts but, once I was at the Boarding House, I couldn't help not feeling alone. I felt comforted. I felt at home.

Author's Note: Thank you all so much for the support you're giving me. Not in my wildest dreams did I think this story would get this kind of response. Your reviews have been amazing and so kind. I feel blessed and beyond happy :)
I'd like to thank Anya because she has been absolutely amazing and so patient with me. And I hope this chapter satisfied those of you who miss Damon :)