Cinderblock Garden // 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 and Cassandra.

Julie smiled. "We write music in the same room that he did, and we 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," Cassandra said. "Not many people find that, but Luke did. He was so lucky."

Luke poofed away.

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

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

Julie and Cassandra left the house and looked for Luke, but he was gone.

OUTSIDE JULIE'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Cassandra and Julie walked up to Luke and Julie glanced at her friend. "Is it okay if I leave you two alone?"

Cassandra nodded. "Yeah. It'll be okay."

Julie walked away, leaving her friend with the ghost.

"Hey," Cassandra greeted as she walked up.

"Hey," Luke replied.

"I'm sorry for overstepping."

Luke moved from the pillar and closer to Cassandra as he said, "No, I... I 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."

"You helped me and Julie feel more connected to her mom, so... she and I wanted to do the same thing for you."

"That was perfect." Cassandra tried to take his hand, but she phased through him. She faced forward with a disappointed expression.

Luke let out a sigh. "This is an interesting little relationship you and I have. Hey, that song you wrote for your sister?"

"What about it?"

"Can I hear it? I mean, only if you want to. You don't have to share it with me if you don't want to."

"No, it's okay. Carrie and I used to be close when were little, and then high school came and it's like she became a completely different person."

"Cassie, I am so sorry."

"Why? Everyone changes, some become nicer, some don't."

"Can I hear it?"

Cassandra nodded. "Sure." She pulled out her phone and pulled up the lyrics, then glanced at Luke. "It's called Distance Between."

Distance Between:

Born together, connected forever
Same room, same shared space
As close as can be
Never wanting distance between

Best friends forever
Two peas sharing one pod
But now I ask what changed
We're too different from what used to be

You chose to be loved by all
I chose the other route
We still talk and laugh
But now there's distance between

Best friends forever
Two peas sharing one pod
But now I ask what changed
We're too different from what used to be