She can't remember anything. Her mind is a blank slate as she slowly opens her eyes to the world she can't remember. Surrounding her are machines that beep loudly, and blink their lights rapidly. There is also a man standing looking at a clipboard in his hands and through heavy eyes she turns and sees a man in the chair beside her, frowning as he sleeps.

She notices how gorgeous he looks, even in his sleep, with his jet black hair and the sharp contours of his face. She halts her train of thought, realizing he may be related to her in some way, thought she desperately hopes not.

She returns her attention to the man who she concludes, must be a doctor. He glances from the clipboard to look at her and back to his clipboard before his eyes return to her face. His mouth hangs open and he stares at her in mild shock. "You're awake?" he replies with a curios look before he breaks into a smile.

She gives a small nod, and then before he can ask anymore questions, she asks her own. "Who am I?"

The doctor looks at her with a concerned expression. "You can't remember who you are?" He asks slowly.

She shakes her head. "I can't remember anything." She says, and the doctor is able to hear a slight panic in her tone.

He quickly writes something in the clipboard before returning his gaze to his patient. "You are Elena Gilbert." He tells her.

"Elena." Elena replies, as if testing her name out. "What happened to me?" She asks suddenly.

The doctor looks at her with a worried expression, not knowing how his patient will take it. "A bridge collapsed while you were driving beneath it. You were lucky to get out alive." He says quietly. "You were nearly suffocated by the dust, and large pieces of concrete landed on you, breaking many of your bones." He pauses for a moment after she flinches. "A metal pole from the structure was driven through your stomach, which we removed. You were sent into a coma when a slab of concrete landed on your head."

"Wh-who are you?" Elena stutters after hearing the events of what happened to her.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Dr. Alaric Saltzman." The doctor replies with a sense of pride. "I will be taking care of you for the next few weeks that you are here."

"Weeks?" Elena squeaks. Although she couldn't remember being in one before, Elena had the feeling that she hated hospitals.

"Yes, the metal pole has caused some problems with your organs and we'll have to keep a close watch on it. Also with your lack of memory we'll have to make sure you don't have any other effects." Dr. Saltzman replied.

Elena gives a weak nod letting him know that she understands. "Will I get my memory back?" She asks, though she fears the answer.

"It is hard to say. We will keep you here though, as I mentioned and you will have to report to us if you have any weird flashbacks, or memories or even dreams."

Elena feels her stomach knot at the answer. She wants to remember her family, her city, her life.

She finally asks him her last question. "And who is that?" She asks looking towards the man seated beside her who has just started to stir.

"That is Damon Salvatore." The doctor replies. "I believe he is a close friend of yours."

The man, Damon, finally opens his eyes and a smile break onto his face as he looks at his best friend, wide awake.

"Elena!" he says with enthusiasm. "Thank God your awake." He says exhaling.

Elena nods, the best she can do as she looks into the bright blue eyes of the man in front of her. They just add to the overall presence of this man. She thought he was gorgeous while he slept, but she couldn't understand exactly how stunning he really was until his light blue eyes met her wide brown ones.

"Are you okay?" He asks, noticing her hesitation.

Elena opens her mouth but doesn't know how to respond. She closes it again and looks down.

"Is she okay?" Damon asks the doctor, sounding more worried.

"Mr. Salvatore, I'm sorry to have to tell you this," Dr. Saltzman replies slowly, his eyes resting on Elena. "Elena has lost all her memory."

Damon looks to Elena, and she meets his eyes where she sees the shock, and sorrow and even though she can see he tried to mask it, she clearly sees heartbreak.

Just a short chapter to start off the story. A lot more will be explained in the next chapter. More characters introduced and more about Elena's life.
And this story is all human.