Stand Tall // Julie and the Phantoms (Luke Patterson)

20

"Thank you," Emily said as she held the paper to her heart, letting sobs escape her lips.

"You have no idea," Mitch told Julie.

Julie smiled. "I write music in the same room that he did, and I can tell you that it's a magical, happy place." The two adults chuckled.

"That's nice to know," Mitch said.

"I know he was only 17 when he -- but he lived doing the one thing he was born to do. Not many people find that, but Luke did. He was so lucky."

Luke and Emilia poofed away.

Julie smiled. "It was so nice to meet you."

"It was nice to meet you, too," Mitch replied.

Julie left the house and looked for Luke and Emilia, but they were gone.

OUTSIDE JULIE'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Emilia glanced at Luke. "That was for me?"

Luke nodded. "Yeah. Partly. But after your death, I couldn't finish it. It was too painful. Sad as it is to say, I could only finish it after I ran away."

"Luke, you don't have to explain. I get it."

"Did it hurt when you died?"

"A little, yes. It hurt to breathe, but that was it. Did it hurt for you?"

"No, not really. Emilia, the song about that August night?"

"What about it?"

"I wrote it for you, after you died. It's called Blue August Night."

Emilia took the song and read over the lyrics.

Blue August Night:

The nights seem to last
The day will it dawn
Pain took hold and let you go
Shattering both heart and soul

Be serious for once, that's what I said
The guilt of no admittance
Weighs heavily down
Since that blue August night

The days slowly pass
Each harder than the last
They say ease comes in time
But the aching heart hurts oh so long

Be serious for once, that's what I said
The guilt of no admittance
Weighs heavily down
Since that blue August night

A hug never said it all
That blue August night
Stole a chance of you and me
Now you only live in memory

Be serious for once, that's what I said
The guilt of no admittance
Weighs heavily down
Since that blue August night

Emilia inhaled deeply. "Luke, I-I don't know what to say. This is beautiful. Thank you."

He smiled and nodded. "It was the only way I could express what I was feeling. Emmy, I-"

"Hey," Julie greeted as she walked up.

"Hey," Luke and Emilia replied, the former in a disappointed tone.

"I'm sorry for overstepping."

Luke moved from the pillar and closer to Julie as he held Emilia's hand and said, "No, we... We just had to leave. That was..."

"You don't have to say anything."

"Yeah, I do. Uh... I didn't have many regrets in my life except for running out on my parents. Especially my mom... so thank you. And never telling Emmy how I felt before she died. So, thanks again."