Page 1 of Petals of Blue: Part One

Prologue

ERICA

There are moments that break you. Bits of time that shatter your perception of the future. Some that change you fundamentally and steal your hope.

For me, those punches came one right after another over the course of eight months. The hits of betrayal hurt so much I had no choice but to fortify my walls and harden my heart.

The pain wasn't the beginning, but that's what made it worse. Friendship and loyalty were the start of our story. The five of us were inseparable during high school. Until I had to move. What once was camaraderie and young love turned into silent heartbreak. The boys who brightened my days cut me out of their lives and cast a shadow over my future.

Without them, in a scary home of uncertainty and hostility, Erica became Blue.

Here shows the slow death of Erica Bennett.

Text Threads

Texting…

DECLAN

Me: We made it safe. Already mad about the tiny room.

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Me: Missing you already! Will you come visit me soon?

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Me: Declan... You okay?

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Me: Are you mad at me??

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Me: It's been a month Dec. Seriously, what's wrong?

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Declan : Leave me alone, Erica. Move on.

Declan was the first to befriend me. How could he also be the first to break me? Life had a funny way of tearing me down. My hope of him responding held me in a chokehold for too many long weeks. Until he got sick of me and shattered the only support and source of love I had.

One hour wasn’t supposed to separate us. They had cars and their licenses, plus...theypromised. So...why?

I don't think I'll ever know why he ghosted me, but one thing's for certain: Declan Ledger, my best friend and crush, abandoned me.

Texting…

ROMAN

Me: Safe, no need to worry anymore! Although, this house is a dump

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Me: You and Dec doing something? Haven't heard from either of you.

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