A Promise

by RedHeadedFlame

Modern AU: Katniss and Peeta make a promise to each other on the night of their high school graduation. However a tragic incident then tears them apart. Over the years they get caught in lives they do not want and struggle to keep their promise to each other

1. Chapter 1

Prologue

Present Day

I let the water rush over my body as I begin to mentally prepare myself for this business dinner tonight. Some regeneration project that has got my husband all excited. I need to play the part of the perfect wife and hostess. I turn off the knob, step out the shower and pick up my pearl necklace that is resting by the side of the sink. I secure it safely around my neck. It is the least expensive piece of jewellery that I own; a simple silver chain with a single pearl attached. However for all its lack of finical worth it is my most valued possession. I only ever take it off when I am taking a shower or going swimming. My husband does not understand my attachment to it. He has many times tried to get me to wear other pieces of jewellery. Every now and again I indulge his wishes and wear one of the ridiculously expensive pieces he has bought me, while still wearing my pearl around my wrist. For my 25th birthday he even bought me a half a million dollar string of pearls to replace it. He was furious when I turned up at my birthday party still wearing my old necklace and broke the ice sculptures in his anger. People still joke about that today whenever they see an ice sculpture.

But he can never understand the sentimental value the pearl has for me. Because he doesn't know how to love. He claims he loves me but we both know that these are empty words that he knows he is expected to say. His feelings for me are at best an animalistic urge to own me.

But this pearl to me is a promise. A promise spoken on a long ago night by two young people who didn't know the harsh realities of life. A promise to love each other no matter the circumstances. A promise I still keep to this day.