[ people often ask her if she's okay, but they never really want to know. she knows it's not caroline's fault or bonnie's fault. it's not even jeremy's fault for not wanting to open that wound. if she's not okay, then they'll feel compelled to fix it, but there's no fixing how she feels.

elena keeps her hands in her pockets as they walk, her feet feeling heavier against the snow that seems to want to swallow her whole. ]

Your brother killed my last relative. Damon killed Jeremy because... [ she shakes her head, feeling anger and resentment bubble to the surface. she swallows and keeps her gaze on the snow. ] Every person in my family has died, and it's because of vampires wanting to get to me. I'm not okay, Elijah, but I have to be.

[ poor soon-to-be-dead john doesn't count as a relative. ]