forgetyourusedtobe | Є019 spam/text/voice/video; so far from where i started.

[Elena returns to her cabin after lunch and notices the door leading to her bathroom is closed. Elena freezes, sensing something is different and entirely unseure of what. Swallowing hard, she steps forward and puts a tentative hand on the handle. Opening it, she finds the shared full bathroom she had with her brother. Her heart clenches in her chest at the sight of the smooth wall where another door should be, but she doesn't look away. Instead, she just stands there a while in silence. She needs a few minutes to let it sink in.]

[She can go.]

spam - abigail.
[She knows she should go to Arkin first, but Arkin has to wait. There's someone she needs to see first before him. Elena leaves her room in a hurry and heads to Abigail's, knocking on the door. She realizes, of course, after she knocks that she's woefully unprepared to have this conversation. She doesn't know the right way or the best way to say she's leaving. She knows Abigail will understand. Abigail always does. But she's also not sure how Abigail will handle it in the end. Or if they'll ever see each other again. But it's a conversation that has to happen. So Elena draws a deep breath and steels herself for what is to come.]

spam - arkin.
[After she's had time with Abigail, Elena leaves for Arkin's cabin. Her knock is a little smaller than she intended, but she's already feeling a little emotionally drained and exhausted. But she's still happy. She's happier than she's felt in a long while.]

text - dean.

what do you say to one last drink?

text - bond.

hey jimmy, i got some good news.

voice - harvey.

I did it.

video.

[Elena feels like she should have some kind of speech prepared. Some kind of splendid and memorable goodbye with gratitude to everyone who stuck by her through the worst of her life. She started with no humanity, hating herself and everything her life had become. But gradually, over time, Elena learned to love herself again. She learned to not be afraid of caring. There's a storm of emotions inside of her, good and bad, but she can navigate through them now. And the emotion she feels the most is hope.]

[She'd forgotten what that felt like.]

I really don't know what to say. I guess because I never really thought I'd get to this point.

[She smiles.]

But I guess I graduated.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I promise.

[Truth be told, Elena is a little afraid of going back. She knows that's a natural feeling to an extent. She has a lot to apologize for, after all, and none of it will be easy. But she was able to do it with Caroline, she can do it with Bonnie. And Jeremy.]

[It's the confrontations that she's more anxious about though. There's a lot there and it will be hard not to fall back down. But she has to trust herself and believe in her own strength to survive this.]

I'm going to still look out for everybody, but I'm take care of myself from now on. [She smiles a little before kissing Abigail again.] I think I learned my lesson about what will happen if I don't.

Good.

[She means it, with every fiber of her being. It's all she ever wanted for Elena, really. That power. Even if it isn't power to hurt people - the power to be loudly and exquisitely herself. And she's fought to get it back.]

I'm proud of you.

[She rests her head on Elena's shoulder, just for a moment. Not too long; she'll need to go. Just, maybe, another minute.]

[Elena doesn't like the idea of leaving Abigail behind. Especially not with someone like Hannibal still lurking around or even someone like Harvey and Two-Face. But she has to trust in Abigail that she will make the right decisions in the end. She might stumble and fall, but she will see her way out of this place sooner or later.]

[She stays for longer than she necessarily meant to, holding onto Abigail, before she takes that step back. Elena still holds onto her hands, leaning in for at least one last kiss.]

If you ever need me and you find a way to reach me, I'll be there in a heartbeat. I promise.

[It feels like she's floating, like this is the last minute of the last day of her life. Everything is stretched-out and extended into forever, so that she can remember Elena's touch until the day she dies.]

[Elena's lips are soft on hers, and she kisses back, but doesn't pull her close. She knows. It's time. It has to be time.]

[Her lashes flutter on Elena's cheeks, and then she steps back, too. She's smiling, bright as the sun.]

I know you will.

And I love you, too.

[Elena gives Abigail's hands a soft squeeze before she lets go reluctantly. It's so strange to hear those words now and know they mean something. Unlike before when there were unspoken stipulations and conditions placed upon them.]

[Elena thought Stefan loved her. But he wanted to forget her the moment he thought her heart belonged to someone else. She even thought that Damon loved her in his own way. But he isn't someone who knows what love is.]

[Some might say that of Abigail. It's not like she's had that many examples or really experienced it for herself. But Elena believes it fully and completely when Abigail says it. She could have turned her back on Elena once her humanity was turned back on. But she didn't. She only shied away because she wasn't sure Elena would still want her. She loved Elena through her rage and her grief and she continued to love Elena as she began to heal.]

[And that's all that's ever mattered to Elena about what they share with each other, that unconditional love and understanding that had been lacking in her life for so long.]

I'll see you, Abigail. [She gives a small wave as she starts to back away.] And I'll always love you.

[Even if they aren't meant to last forever. Even if Elena falls in love with someone else some day. Nothing can change the way she feels about Abigail in the end.]