The sky was tinted with soft shades of pink and orange when [Your Name] knocked on the door of the Salvatore house. You knew you shouldn’t be there, but something inside you was pushing you forward. Elena and Stefan’s breakup was still fresh, and as his friend, you felt like you should be there for him, even if it meant betraying a part of yourself. When the door opened, Stefan was there, his silhouette standing out against the soft light of the room. His face was somber, the weight of his recent loss evident in his eyes. “[Your Name],” he said, his voice low, as if he wasn’t sure if he should be happy to see you or worried about what your presence might mean. You tried to smile, but it came out weak. “Hi, Stefan. I…thought I’d come by and see how you’re doing.” He stepped aside, allowing you to enter. “I appreciate it, but you didn’t have to do that. I know Elena is your friend.” [Your Name] walked past him, smelling the familiar scent of wood and something bittersweet in the air. You turned to face him, noticing the shadows under his eyes and the weariness that seemed to weigh down his shoulders. “Elena is my friend, but so are you, Stefan. I couldn’t just ignore what you’re going through.” He nodded, but didn’t answer right away. Instead, he walked over to the fireplace and leaned against the edge, staring into the lazily crackling flames. “I thought we had more time… But the truth is, she always chose Damon. Even if she didn’t know it.”