Hey there! Yes, it's me again with another AU/AH Delena story. I couldn't help myself. This story demanded to be written. I have another in-progress Delena fanfic, I haven' forgotten about that, the next chapter is coming soon. But first this.

Big thanks to my beta, LeighJ11!

FULL SUMMARY: A girl who fled to Italy just to escape her past, and a boy who built his sparkling life on it. Damon Salvatore's name is well-known in Hollywood. He's the hot new guy: killer smile and eyes to die for. Everybody wants him for themselves. But they don't see past the kilowatt smile and shiny hair. They don't see the brother who gets into a rock climbing accident. They don't see him dropping his life to travel to Verona, to aid his brother's recovery. They certainly don't see the young nurse whose past secrets haunt her. Most of all, they don't see the beginning of a journey from which they can never turn back from.

Two self-willed and proud twentysomethings. One unfair bet. Two tickets. One journey to the past.

"They say that time heals all things, they say you can always forget; but the smiles and the tears across the years they twist my heartstrings yet!" - George Orwell

Prologue: Smiles and Tears

Hey,

So I know it's awkward, me writing a letter. But I had to write it all down and give you what is most likely the final thing I'll ever say to you. So here goes.

A very long time ago, I swore- no, I promised myself, that I would never fall in love with you. Not under any circumstances, no matter what. I vowed to myself, there and then, that I would never, ever let you wrap me around your little finger. But where have these vows gotten me? I have broken these promises, shattered these oaths.

I served my heart on a silver platter with trimmings for you to take, and play with. I thought this would never happen, and yet here I am. I am hopelessly in love with you. I can't deny it any longer. The bet ceased to exist in the never ending moment that realization made itself present. So here it is: my surrender. You won. Honestly, I thought you would gloat, or accusingly point at me. Something, anything. But you took it so much further. Made it so much worse.

You pitied me. You couldn't have been nastier. Crueler. Couldn't have destroyed me any more than you did in that moment, and yet, I still don't hate you. Believe me, I want to. I crave it. The bitter, hot resentment in my chest and hate bubbling my gut. But I don't feel it. I can't. I have no rights to. I'm not angry, I have no blame. I don't deserve you. I never have. You deserve someone so much better than me. So much more than me.

I wish, I hope, that you find the love I feel for you in somebody else. Someone worthy. I want this for you, and so I announce, from this moment forward, that I am no longer a part of your life. You don't have to see me, look at me or even think about me. We won't meet accidently or exchanging awkward eye contact, because I'll be thousands of miles away.

There will be a thousand miles between us. I promise you that I will do anything to forget you. To leave you in peace. I just want you to know that my life will change, because of you. Hospitals, Italian movies; they'll be removed. I won't walk barefoot behind the hills at the lakeside, watching the sun descend below the horizon.

I won't do any of these things, until I forget you.

This is the prologue, a letter. I want to make a poll. Who do you think wrote this? Damon or Elena? I'd like to know what do you think and how your opinion will change with each chapter! :)

The next 1st chapter comes tomorrow!