[ it's better that he does; her control, tenuous at best, requires active effort, a commitment that becomes more difficult with each second that slips away. when his hand pulls back, caroline's shoulders slump, head sagging back down from a poised position she hadn't realized she was holding. so tense — she can hear damon's voice in the back of her head, always mocking.

would it be so bad to let go? you could take him. but she won't. can't. she isn't that person, no matter how easy it would be (and she's no reason to think it wouldn't be). she doesn't want to be. ]

I don't think there's a connection for me here, unless the name Salvatore means anything to you. [ a shot in the dark, quite literally. ] But I appreciate it.

[ her smile might be sweeter than jason's, but it's more tired too. an exhaustion that comes from deep in her bones, weak in more than just effort. ]

I just have to tough it out until they let me go. I've lived through worse.