Prologue~

Emma Swan was, yet again, running. She had been a runner her entire life. Whenever anything got too difficult, too hard, too complicated, she ran away. She didn't face it when it was so much easier to avoid it altogether.

But she couldn't avoid this. This problem was everywhere.

This problem was in the smell of the fragrant apple blossoms that floated through the chilly spring air.

This problem was in the sound of high heels click-clacking down the grey pavement that lined the streets of Storybrooke.

This problem was in the thoughts that reminded Emma during every waking moment how much she needed this one particular woman in her life.

This problem was the fact that she had finally realized that she was in love with Regina Mills.

But it was too late now, she reminded herself as tears pooled onto her white shirt and made sad little puddles on the cloth. She looked down at the pools and reflected how her shirt was now stained with her sorrow. If only she would have realized it sooner. Of course an idiot like herself wouldn't have figured it out until a week before Regina's wedding. Damn it.

She had realized that she loved Regina. She had realized that she needed Regina. She realized that she would never be happy without Regina. But she had also decided that Regina would never be happy if Emma told her the truth. Regina was already getting her happy ending by marrying Robin. That's why Emma was going to step out of the picture. She loved Regina enough to let her go.

She was leaning against her yellow bug, letting it support her weight for fear her knees would fail her. Her eyes and throat stung with tears and she was contemplating running. If she ran, she wouldn't have to deal with this anymore. Any of it; The unbearable longing she felt whenever she laid eyes on Regina. The pain that was like someone digging in a rake and dragging it through her stomach when she saw the happy couple together. The jolt of happiness she felt when Regina walked into a room…. because that happiness only faded to sorrow, guilt, and pain when she realized Regina was getting married and would be out of her reach forever in just a few short days.

Emma turned around, looking back at the diner she had just left. There were several people inside of Granny's. In fact, almost the entire town was there for pre-celebrations concerning the wedding. She heard a roar of laughter and pain flared through her heart. She couldn't leave this town. In her whole life, Storybrooke was the only place that had ever felt like home. She had made a habit of leaving a place before she could get too attached to it. It was too late this time. She couldn't start over again.

As she wiped her wet face on the sleeve of her sweater and walked back up the path to the diner, she made a silent vow to herself to let Regina go. She couldn't let her feelings get in the way.

What she didn't know was how hard that vow was going to be to keep.