The Vampire Diaries is preparing a major send off for one of its major characters next week, but the question we’re all thinking is: How is she going to leave?

When Nina Dobrev announced she was going to be leaving The Vampire Diaries everyone was shocked. We had known for a while that one of the three main stars of the show hadn’t signed the contract for a seventh season, but the speculation has always been that Ian Somerhalder or Paul Wesley would be the ones to leave.

Since it was revealed that Dobrev was the actor in question everyone has been wondering how she was going to leave the show in a way that made sense. Her character, Elena, is so in love with Damon Salvatore that her becoming human and running away from him makes no sense. So when the cure was introduced we’d all assumed that she would probably die at the end of the season.

Taking a look at the promo for the season finale, Elena’s death definitely seems imminent.

But is it really that simple? When the executive producer of the show, Julie Plec, talked to THR she had said “there’s a lot more going on in the episode than if you just take those trailers at face value.”

But what do those cryptic words mean, exactly? We do have to say that if they kill off Elena Gilbert it would be far too predictable and easy of a move, despite how many fans would like to see that happen. Plus, this show doesn’t need yet another character death in their hands – we’ve already seen Elena die, much like we’ve already seen Bonnie, Jeremy, and Alaric face the same fate, all of whom have returned.

At this point death doesn’t mean anything on The Vampire Diaries, even when it’s final. It’s a sad thing to say but it’s the truth, and if Plec and the team really want us to be shocked and moved then they’re going to have to figure out a different way for Dobrev to exit the series gracefully.

One move we’d love to see, however improbable, is Damon taking the cure with Elena, after finding out she’s alright, of course. Yes, Somerhalder has already signed the contract for season 7 (or so we think), but Patrick Dempsey’s departure from Grey’s Anatomy has taught us that anything could happen. The only caveat with having both Dobrev and Somerhalder leave the show is that it would leave a serious gap in the cast for its seventh season, and many viewers would likely stop watching.

But let’s face it: Damon taking the cure would be the only surprising thing The Vampire Diaries could do right now in regards to the Delena relationship, and it would definitely shake up the series even more.

How do you think Elena will leave ‘The Vampire Diaries?’

We’ve told you how we think the show should handle Dobrev’s departure, but what do you think? Let us know in the comments below!