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The Rest.
I wish I could say the three of us live happily ever after after that. That Luke and Casey (and I) go on to win countless awards. Casey and I get married, have three photo album children, twelve grandchildren, and die as happy old people holding hands in the house we built under a quilt I made. That Luke eventually finds peace and love, and none of us ever has to visit that dark place behind the mirror again.
But that’s not the way things work.
I don’t know what will happen. I know it probably won’t be all, or any, of that. All I know is what’s now, and that I have to embrace it, because you can’t define yourself by the future and what you’re not. Because sometimes we make bad choices and sometimes the evil chooses us, and that mirror is always there, waiting for the moment when we give up and relinquish power.
So, here’s what I know.
I’m Callie Roland. Twenty-three, and I’m a great friend. I’m an ok writer who got incredibly lucky and will soon have writing credits on an EP put out by rock superstars Night Shifts Black. I’m crashing in a ridiculously expensive hotel with my incredible boyfriend whom I’m pretty sure I’m in love with, and my other friend I love like a brother.
I know Casey Barrett is inspired again and writing like a fiend. He’s already finished his “break up song” called “Too Late,” which he continues to swear is inspired by brief fling Jana Furmali, and not me whom he’s crazy about. That doesn’t stop me from teasing him, of course. Anything to see that magnetic grin as much as possible.
Here are the lyrics we worked on together.
“Isn’t it obvious our feelings fade away
Isn’t it obvious it’s too late to make a change
So I wait for the i You want a sign, demanding your proof It’s too late for answers Too late for questions Too late for telling lies Too late for pleading Too late for reason You know it’s time, oh it’s time Isn’t it obvious amidst our cold embrace Isn’t it obvious there’s too much to erase And you wait for the shadow of a memory Here’s your sign, you barely saw me leave A picture’s worth a
thousand words Let’s leave them as
memories…” Thanks, Jana. Which brings us to
Luke Craven. He’s still sad, quieter than he should be, but no longer
decimated. He participates in life more often than not, and has finally agreed
to let us finish “Perfect Day” for the EP. He even had some input on “Too Late”
and “Laughing Stock,” and openly admits the final set will be an epic comeback
that’ll make the Label and fans happy. He’s also seriously talking about
sobriety and promised to seek counseling for his depression. He’s cut back on
the alcohol to maintenance levels, although he’s still stuck in dependence and
needs professional support. Casey and I made a compelling case for counseling,
encouraging Luke with confessions of our own experiences letting the pros guide
and support us through our journey out of the darkness. We’re setting a goal of
getting him help prior to the tour, which is currently scheduled to kick off on
September 12. And yes, I also now know
that I’m officially going with them. Don’t laugh, but somehow I’ve ended up
with this crazy image of being Luke’s guardian angel. Casey finds the whole
thing hilarious, the way everyone treats me like I’m some holy psychiatrist,
but he’s not complaining, and thinks it will be good for me to be around as
support for both of them. Luke needs that extra boost to get through what’s
going to be a very difficult transition back to the life he fled, and I think,
deep down, Casey knows Luke needs more than the ancient friendship Casey can
provide. He needs a rude, impolite, busybody who will refuse to let him imprison
himself. Someone to fight that damn mirror and keep it from claiming another
victim. He doesn’t need a fan, he needs a supporter. An anchor, not a dreamer,
and that’s me. Callie Roland, hammer.