Mimì

... is the tragic heroine of La Bohème. She it is who is told by the poet Rodolfo, in the first Act, that her tiny hand is frozen.

The opera opens on Christmas Eve. We meet four students, down and out in the Quartier Latin of Paris: Rodolfo the poet, Marcello the painter, Schaunard the musician, and Colline the philosopher. They are all starving. They leave to spend the evening out – all except Rodolfo, who needs to finish an article he is writing. He is interrupted by his neighbour Mimì, a seamstress, who is looking for some matches to light her candle. It is cold; Mimì and Rodolfo huddle together. In two touching arias, they tell each other about their backgrounds. It's love at first sight.

In Act Two, still on Christmas Eve, Mimì and Rodolfo join their friends at the Café Momus, where a party is underway. The group is joined by Musetta, Marcello's former mistress, now on the arm of a rich old man named Alcindoro. The saucy Musetta goes to great lengths to reclaim the attention of Marcello, who is still in love with her.

While Marcello and Musetta spend their time quarrelling, the course of true love is not running smooth for Mimì and Rodolfo either. Mimì is too flirtatious, according to Rodolfo, but she claims that Rodolfo is too jealous. In fact, Mimì has consumption and knows she is doomed. She tells Rodolfo that she is leaving him, but as a compromise she agrees that they should stay together until the spring, when the world is coming to life again and no one feels truly alone.

Several months later, after the arrival of spring, Marcello and Rodolfo sing of happier times in the past. They cannot forget their lost loves; when Spring did arrive, Mimì left Rodolfo for a wealthy viscount.

Suddenly, Musetta arrives with Mimì, who is dying and has left her patron. Musetta found her that day in the street, severely weakened by her illness, and Mimì begged Musetta to bring her to Rodolfo. Mimì, haggard and pale, is assisted onto a bed. The friends decide to pawn what few belongings they have, to buy her medicine. But in reality, nothing can be done. Left alone, Mimì and Rodolfo sing their goodbyes; she confesses that she still loves him.

The others return. Mimì assures Rodolfo that she feels better, but then lapses into unconsciousness. Musetta prays, but Schaunard discovers that Mimì has died. Rodolfo rushes to the bed, calling Mimì's name in anguish as the curtain falls.

Thanks to Opera Online for the synopsis (enhanced with further detail from Wikipedia).