[A/N: New story, folks. I'm still periodically working on Telling it Like it Is, and it's something I'll return to from time to time when I have my typical writer's block. This is better than that story, though, so my thanks goes out to everyone who reads this, even if you don't review. I do appreciate feedback of all kinds, though.

I realize that this is really short. It's the prologue, though, so what do you expect? I'm planning on uploading the first real chapter in a couple of hours.]

---------------------------------------------------

He enveloped her in a hug. A loving, yet bitter, embrace. She had never experienced something with so many complications, never had felt so many mixed meanings behind a single action. She never wanted to let go; she never wanted it to end. But he pulled away first.

"Mia," he stumbled for words. "I need to…"

She placed her index finger on his lips, a feeble attempt to silence him. "Please don't. Isn't there another way to do things? It can't be too late. We can make things better."

He shook his head, his eyes almost glistening. 'He'd never shed a tear in my presence,' she thought, and her heart broke. 'He's much too good for that. Much too strong. His foundation would never crumble. Never, ever.' He was her life.

Mia choked on her own tears, only the slightest whispers escaping from her lips. "But I don't know when I'll see you again…"

"Neither do I, Mia. Neither do I." He paused to pull something out of his coat pocket and sighed. "This is for you."

Mia reached out, her hands trembling, and wrapped her fingers around a slender and silvery chain that he hesitantly dangled before her face. A necklace.

"It was the best I could do. I'm sorry."

"No, no! It's beautiful, it's absolutely wonderful." And indeed, it was. It was just a chain, but if one looked closely enough, small and intricate flowers engraved in the silver would be easily visible. It sparkled even in the blackest night. It was dazzling when all was dreary. Hope.

"Mia," he struggled. "Mia. Remember me by this. Even when I'm gone. Even when everything changes. This is important; you need to remember. It's all we'll ever have left."

She nodded, the tears streaming down her face now. He took a step back, and gazed at her one last time, as if he were attempting to take a mental photograph.

He cupped her face in his hands. "Mia, you need to stay strong these next couple of days, these next months, these next years. This isn't what I expected to happen, so there's only one thing left that'll keep us going. Promise me you'll stay strong. Promise me you'll find happiness. I don't care what it takes; just promise me that you'll stay cheerful. This is what I want for you."

He took the necklace from Mia's hands and clasped it around her neck. Bending down, he gave her one last kiss, and began to head off in the opposite direction. He turned away as quickly as he could, but she didn't miss the lone tear finding its way down his cheek.

"I promise," Mia whispered, her hands slowly fingering the slender chain around her neck.

---------------------------------------------------

[A/N (at the end of the chapter, hah): All right. I have a lot of hopes for the success of this story, so I hope you guys enjoy reading this, and send me the occasional review! This first tidbit was what I consider to be "the prologue", so keep that in mind. Most of the time, I'll be able to weave in the context of this story through italicized flashbacks and other internal thoughts, but there's some things I'll come up and clarify right now.
- All characters are out of college and have jobs
- I only own the characters that you do not recognize from the books
- Will this turn out to be Mia-Michael? I don't know quite yet…
I'm going to state this before I move on: the a/n's in this story are incredibly important; they'll clarify some things that you may be unsure about. So read them – I know I'll have to explain some things from time to time! Another thing: My chapters will be somewhat shorter than most chapters of other fanfics I've read. My apologies in advance, but I'm a sucker for suspense, and I'd hate to lengthen the chapters and ruin the endings. You know?]