The Walls We Break

Copyright Published by Katelyn Taylor Cover art by Sammi Bee Designs Formatted by Katelyn Taylor The Walls We Break is a work of fiction. Names, characters, incidents, and places are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real people or events is coincidental. The Walls We Break Copyright © 2022 by Katelyn Taylor All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. Playlist Vi's Playlist Breathe by Taylor Swift, Colbie Caillat I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack Love Song by Sara Bareilles Everywhere by Michelle Branch She's So High by Tal Bachman Breathe by Michelle Branch Fallin' For You by Colbie Caillat Rainbow by Kacey Musgraves Slow Dancing by Aly & AJ Ship To Wreck by Florence+The Machine Snow On The Beach by Taylor Swift (Ft. Lana Del Rey) This Love by Taylor Swift A Thousand Years by Christina Perri Declan's Playlist Talkin' Tennessee by Morgan Wallen One Of Them Girls by Lee Brice Dangerous by Morgan Wallen Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd Singles You Up by Jordan Davis She's With Me by High Valley You Proof by Morgan Wallen Take It From Me by Jordan Davis More Surprised Than Me by Morgan Wallen Beautiful Crazy by Luke Combs She's Everything by Brad Paisley Slow Dance In A Parking Lot by Jordan Davis Do I Make You Wanna by Billy Currington Dedication To all of the survivors. You are stronger than your circumstances. Just breathe and you will find the light at the end of the tunnel. Or a sexy pro football player. Preferably both. Trigger Warning Please be aware that The Walls We Break does touch on and display certain scenarios and actions that could be potentially triggering for some readers. If you are uncomfortable with any of these triggers please be cautious about continuing on as your mental health is always first priority. Potential triggers include, domestic violence (physical, psychological, neglect), trauma, PTSD, attempted sexual assault. Contents Violet Declan Vi Vi Vi Declan Vi Vi Vi Declan Declan Vi Vi Declan Declan Vi Declan Vi Vi Vi Vi Vi Declan Vi Declan Vi Declan Vi Vi Declan Vi Declan Vi Vi Declan Vi Declan Vi Vi Declan Declan Vi Declan Vi Declan Vi Vi Vi Declan Vi Declan Vi Declan Vi Declan Vi Declan Thank you Acknowledgments VioletSix Years AgoThe smell of copper is thick and heady, practically suffocating me inside this shrinking room. My limbs are heavy and my vision blurred. Get up, Violet. You need to get up.I hear the distant voice inside my head, begging me, pleading with me to muster up the strength to stand, to move. Just a few more minutes. I need just a few more minutes. To process, to hurt, I’m not really sure. I just need more. Just a few more minutes and then I’ll get up.My head aches as the events play back over in my mind, a single tear running down my cheek before I’m able to stop it in time. How did everything come to this? How was my life able to be irrevocably changed in less than four hundred and eighty seconds? The hurt extends past the physical ache that is wrapped around each part of my body like a vice. It’s deep, internal, and, by far, more painful.Get up, Violet. You need to get up, now.Blowing out a choppy breath that makes my chest burn, I slowly rest my DeclanPresent Day“Well, I gotta say, Jim, the most surprising announcement made this year for me was the last-minute trade of Declan Daniels to the Seattle Crusaders.” “Yeah, drafted by the Knoxville Bucks his junior year at Brighton University, he has been with the team for six years and has had an incredible career in that time.”“I heard that the trade was made by Daniels’ request,” a third commentator chimes in.“Really?” The other two ask simultaneously, instantly perking up at the juicy rumor that is no doubt floating around the sports community right now.Granted, it’s not a rumor. I did request the trade, but no one but myself, Coach Paxton, and Coach Aberton needs the details. That’s one thing they don’t tell you when you are a little kid dreaming of making it big one day as a pro baller. They don’t warn you that anything that happens in your life, private or not, becomes public knowledge. Almost like the public has the right to know what kind of protein shake I drink for breakfast, who I am dating or that one annoying as fuck reporter