The boy inside the matrix box

24

So I'm gonna love you like I'm gonna lose you

And I'm gonna hold you like I'm saying goodbye

Like I'm Gonna Lose You – Meghan Trainor ft John Legend

Sitting in Nataniel's chair, Seven watches as the teenager closes his travel bag.

"When are you coming back?"

"For the sixth time, Sev, I'm coming back on Sunday night," laughs Nataniel.

"I was hoping you'd changed your mind by now. What am I going to do with my weekend without you?"

"Do I have to remind you that you were away for several days at Christmas?"

"But I didn't want to!" he protests. "I was forced and threatened not to get any presents, otherwise!"

"I don't really want to go, you know... But my aunt says it would please my mother if I were there for her birthday. And... she's still my mother..."

"Do you promise me that if she does anything that makes you sad or upset in any way, you'll leave right away? I'll come and get you if I have to!"

"With what?" sneers Nataniel, raising an eyebrow.

"What a question! A stolen car!" He spins the wheelchair around, then lets out a long sigh. "I'll be sad without you."

"I promise I'll answer every single one of your messages within the next ten minutes. I won't let my phone out of my sight."

"Even if I send it to you in the middle of the night? Even if I call you, but I'm too sad to talk?"

"Yes. If you call me at four in the morning, too sad to even say 'Hi', I'll listen to your silence and you'll listen to my silence until you fall asleep."

Seven looks at him with a sad little smile. "I like that idea... But! What if you end up preferring to be away from me and never want to come back?"

Nataniel puts his bag on his shoulders and walks to Seven before kissing him.

"No freaking way," he replies against the young man's lips. "I love you far too much to let you imagine for one moment that I could live without you."

"Do you promise?"

"I promise."

Seven kisses him back and then Nataniel goes off to pick up what's left of his things. "Come on, quick, quick! Before I miss my bus!"

Seven opens the front door and hands him the keys. "Have a nice weekend," he grumbles.

"Thank you. You too... I hope you'll have finished your painting of Beauparlant Street when I get back. I like it very much!"

"I know," smiles Seven. "I'll spend my days on it, then."

"Great! Come on, I'm off! I love you!"

"And I love you even more!"

A laugh escapes Nataniel and he walks away, turning regularly to wave at Seven. Once on the bus that will take him to the station, he puts his headphones on his ears and starts the travel playlist that Seven has sent him.

***

Sitting on the sofa, Nataniel, his mother and his aunt are watching a medical soap opera.

"I'm tired," says his aunt suddenly, yawning. "I'm going to leave you and go to bed. Good night!"

Nataniel gives her a distraught look, begging her not to leave him alone with his mother, but she smiles at him as if nothing had happened and cowardly runs off. The young man sinks into the cushions and, while answering a text from Seven, thinks of a way to get to his room without looking suspicious.