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First date

Summary:

“So what are you saying? You think we should start dating now?”

“Yes, I think we should have a proper first date”

“Aren’t we old for a first date?”

Notes:

I’ve been obsessed with the idea of Trinity and Neo having a first date since the Simulatte scene in M4.
A Blink 182 song inspired an image of a date with a nervous Neo and this came out.
Thanks to astro_icecream for reading it first and guiding me in the right direction. Your words mean everything to me. And infinite thanks to the NeoTrin Discord server. You’ve made a fic writer out of me.

Work Text:

In the car, I just can't wait

To pick you up on our very first date

Is it cool if I hold your hand?

Is it wrong if I think it's lame to dance?

Do you like my stupid hair?

Would you guess that I didn't know what to wear?

I'm just scared of what you'll think

You make me nervous so I really can't eat

 

When you smile, I melt inside

I'm not worthy for a minute of your time

I really wish it was only me and you

I'm jealous of everybody in the room

Please, don't look at me with those eyes

Please, don't hint that you're capable of lies

I dread the thought of our very first kiss

A target that I'm probably gonna miss

 

Let's go

Don't wait

This night's almost over

Honest

Let's make

This night last forever

 

                    — First date, Blink 182 

___

Trinity feels the jack coming out of her neck port. It is an unfamiliar sensation, like something she had experienced before, but not quite in the same way. As she opens her eyes, a quick flashback passes through her mind: an image of her kissing dead Neo, while he was still plugged into the Matrix. Their very first kiss, one of them unconscious. Then, everything around her is an intense light, blinding her as her eyes get used to it. As she starts identifying her surroundings, she feels the brightness around her dim. Her eyes hurt so much. 

 

She feels him before she sees him, instinctively turning her head to where he is. For a second, she doesn’t recognize him. The short hair, the wrinkles that weren’t there before. But then she sees the chocolate eyes—It’s him, undoubtedly Neo. His hand reaches for hers and when their fingers touch, a sense of calm runs through her. Then he is standing in front of her and she stands up as well so she can take a proper look at his eyes, which are whole, unharmed as if nothing had happened to them. She feels his strong chest, touches his soft face. Their foreheads come together naturally, she closes her eyes and sighs. She is home. It’s the last thing she remembers before fainting. 

 

 

Trinity spends many days at the infirmary, more than Neo ever had, and he is there, by her side, day and night. When Ellster tells Neo that Trinity can go home the next day, he asks her if she would like to have her own place—the same courtesy that she offered and he had refused when they first got to Zion. Back then, Neo’s answer had been immediate: “No, I’d prefer to stay with you, if that’s fine”. 

 

Trinity takes a long time before answering. Her hand is in Neo’s and he worries she’ll notice by his sweaty palm how nervous he is because she isn’t answering. She turns her head to look at him, she surely can see the concern in his eyes. “I want to stay with you”, she finally says. “But, can we please take it slow?”, she begs. “Don’t take me wrong. I remember. I remember us. It’s just that everything… it’s too much” she adds and her voice breaks at the end. 

 

Neo takes the hand he is still holding and takes it to his lips. “We’ll take it as you want, Trinity. I’m so happy that you are here”. 

 

Trinity places her free hand over Neo’s head and guides it to lie over her belly. They stay like that for a long time, both of them silently crying. 

 

The next day they arrive in Io and move to their apartment, different from the one where Neo had been held prisoner. It is bigger than her place in Zion, yet cozy and comfortable for both of them. They decide that Trinity will take the bed and Neo the couch for a few nights until she makes a full recovery. 

 

Neo keeps his word and gives Trinity all the space she needs. It has been all so fast for her, from one day to another she went from being married and having three children to being outside the Matrix and living with him. Those first days he is more a friend than a lover to her. He rises early and makes breakfast, having it ready on the table by the time she wakes up. They talk and have tea, they rest, they are near each other, sometimes they hold hands but they haven’t done more than that, there’s a bridge between them that they haven’t crossed. He is not only giving her time, he also wants to make it special, knowing that she’s not fond of Matrix kisses. His desire to be with her is strong and at the same time, he is in no rush for it to happen, content as he is with having her with him. 

 

On their third night in the new apartment, they are sitting on the couch drinking tea. They are mostly silent but comfortable with each other, the familiarity between them growing as they feel more like themselves. She is on the far end of the couch wrapped in a blanket with her feet underneath her. In the semi-darkness of the room, he can perfectly see her profile, looking outside the window, immense sadness in her eyes. He imagines how hard it is for her, being in Io knowing that the place where she grew up no longer exists. He can feel the weight on her chest every time she breathes. He wants to lift that weight and hold her close to him, but it has to be on her terms. After a while, he breaks the silence. 

 

“You know, Trin? I was thinking about that time in Simulatte, the time I bought you coffee, remember?”

 

Trinity smiles as she looks at him. “Of course I remember. We talked about your game. Oh, all that seems so far now… I told you about Chad laughing at me for saying I looked like Trinity… It feels ridiculous now… as if I were the crazy one!” Neo notices that she has started talking more like her old self—bold, audacious—and less like Tiffany. 

 

“We had a good time, don’t you think?” 

 

“Of course we had a good time. I always have a good time when I’m with you…” She reaches for his hand and looks at him tenderly. 

 

“But you know? I was also thinking how we never got to have a first date… before… as ourselves”. 

 

“What are you talking about? We’ve had plenty of dates!” Seeing her smiling so widely is a gift for Neo's sight. 

 

“No we haven’t!”, Neo insists. “We’ve been together plenty of times but none of them counts as an actual date.” 

 

“And why not?” Trinity chuckles as she asks. 

 

“Well, we were always on missions or in the Matrix and never just hanging out”. 

 

“How about in Zion?” 

 

“Oh, come on Trin! I don’t think we ever left the room for more than 30 minutes in Zion” 

 

“Well, that’s true”, Trinity concedes. “So what are you saying? You think we should start dating now?” 

 

“Yes, I think we should have a proper first date”

 

“Aren’t we old for a first date?” 

 

“Tomorrow. I’ll pick you up at 6”, is all that Neo answers. 

 

“Neo, we live together… you don’t have to pick me up” Trinity sounds slightly annoyed but also significantly amused. 

 

“It doesn’t matter. If it’s our first date I have to pick you up. I’ll leave early and come get you at 6” 

 

“Fine. I will have to find something to wear, though. Where are we going, anyway?”.

 

“You’ll have something to wear. And don’t worry about that, I’ll take care of everything”, he says, leaning forward to kiss her cheek. Trinity blushes and makes excuses to go to bed. 

 

She looks around 50 but her body is over 90 years old. Was a wife and mother for 18 years. Spent the last 60 contained in a pod. But that night, when Trinity goes to sleep her smile and excitement are the ones of a 16-year-old. 

 

 

It’s early morning and Neo has no idea of where to find the dress he promised Trinity or where to take her. He hopes that Bugs is already awake, because he doesn’t know who else could help him. He considered asking Niobe, but Trinity would have a fit if she knew that the General had a say in their date. Bugs’s apartment is not far from theirs and that’s lucky as he’s still not familiar enough with Io. He knocks softly on the door and is surprised as Lexy is the one who opens, with sleepy eyes and bed hair. 

 

“Neo! Hi!” Her eyes open wide as she sees him. “Is Trinity alright?”

 

Neo is touched by her concern. “Hi, Lexy. She’s fine, thank you for asking. Is Bugs here? I have a favor to ask”. 

 

“She’s taking a shower, she’ll be out in a minute. Why don’t you sit down and have some tea while you wait for her?” 

 

Neo enters the apartment, similar to the one he shares with Trinity, but with much more personality. There are tapestries with intricate designs hanging from the walls and colorful blankets on the sofas, which Neo examines before sitting down. 

 

“Where do you get those?” Neo asks, pointing at the walls. 

 

Lexy is fixing two mugs of tea as she answers. “The tapestries? At the market. I’ll tell you how to find it. Looking for some decoration?” 

 

“Actually, I need a dress”—Lexy raises an eyebrow playfully as she hears that— “Not for me, for Trinity. I’m taking her out and she needs something special. That’s why I’m here”. 

 

“Ok, ok, I wasn’t judging” Lexy is mocking him and he likes that. He never felt close to her like he did with Bugs, but she’s starting to grow on him. She brings the mugs to the table and places one of them in front of Neo. “What do you have in mind?”. 

 

“I have no idea. I asked her out on a date and I don’t even know if you do that here. Is there some place I can take her? I don’t know what I was getting myself into.” He sounds desperate and Lexy can’t help but feel sympathy for him.

 

“The One is a romantic! Who knew? So when is this date happening?”

 

“Tonight?” Neo answers hesitatingly.

 

“Tonight! You didn’t give yourself much time for this… there’s a party tonight, maybe you could take her dancing” Lexy says moving her hands like a rumba dancer. 

 

“I am not much of a dancer” he answers shyly. 

 

“ Ok, don’t worry. I’ll let Bugs know that you are here and we’ll help you”. Lexy pats him on the back and leaves him alone. 

 

 

Trinity wakes up to find the apartment empty, breakfast on the table, and a note: “See you at six. I love you”. Her heart flutters as she reads the last words. She hasn’t been told that she’s loved in so long. She loves Neo with her life and she has no doubt that he loves her too, but they haven’t exchanged those words since their unplugging. She’s aware that she is making things awkward for Neo and that it’s not fair to them after everything that’s happened, but she can’t help it. The idea of her fake husband, her fake family, is still too fresh in her mind. Plus, Zion is gone, everything and everyone she ever knew, is gone. Except for Niobe, of course. 

 

It was easy on the rooftop. She was high on adrenaline, in a body she was familiar with and she already felt attracted to Thomas before she knew he was Neo. Kissing there was simple, natural. She did remember and when they jumped she knew there was no going back, she was ready for it to be the end because she was sure they weren’t going to make it, Neo couldn’t fly anymore. And then she was flying. Maybe saying she refused to fall would be more accurate. She felt Neo falling and on pure instinct, she grabbed him in the same way that she had grabbed Callie when she had first started walking, both times thinking the same: “Gotcha”— then she was flying. How and why that had happened, she had no idea. 

 

After that, everything was foreign. She woke up in a body she couldn’t recognize as her own, different from the one she had left behind and not quite the one she had in the Matrix; on a ship that reminded her of the Nebuchadnezzar but wasn't; with a crew that seemed so young that made her think about her children; and the worst: a mind full of memories of a life that wasn’t her own. And then it hit her. What had happened. That she had been robbed of her life for so long—and that was when she thought they had been back in the Matrix for only 20 years before Neo told her how much time had really passed. She’s immensely happy to be with him, grateful for this second chance, but she’s afraid she doesn’t know how to be the Trinity that Neo loves anymore. 

 

She finishes her breakfast and washes the dishes. She feels uneasy, it’s her first time alone in the apartment. She’s not sure what to do with herself. Without her kids—she has to keep reminding herself that they were never her kids— there is no mess to clean, no dinner to fix. She is impatient without Neo but also excited about the idea of their date. She can’t remember ever dating Chad. They were married for as long as she could tell and before that, all her memories were blurred, now she knows they were all fake. But they went out once in a while, and then she would spend a fair amount of time getting ready. Now she wants to look good for Neo but has no idea of where to start. She has no dress, no make-up, not even hair. She sighs, in desperate need of a fairy godmother.

 

A few hours later, a knock on the door startles her. It’s too early for it to be Neo and she is not expecting anyone else. She opens the door and there is Berg from the Mnemosyne crew, carrying a bunch of things and looking slightly uncomfortable. 

 

“Hello, Trinity. Sorry to bother you. I have some things for you. Mind if I come in?”

 

As surprised as she is, Trinity is also relieved. She barely knows Berg but right now, she appreciates company and help. She lets him in and together they go through the things that he brought. 

 

“First, here's lunch so you don’t have to worry about that. Now, Lexy and Bugs are sending you this. They are sorry they couldn’t come themselves but they are currently very busy. So I hope I get this right.” Berg is taking things out of the bag as he speaks. “Here’s some makeup, not that you need any, just in case you want to; some accessories for you to choose from, different sandals that you can try, they weren’t sure which ones you would like… oh! and this is from Neo” Berg gives her a bag from where she takes out a beautiful dark blue long dress. Now she feels like Cinderella. 

 

___



Neo is in front of the apartment door a good 10 minutes before 6, breathing and trying to calm himself down. Bugs and Lexy kept insisting that he has no reason to be nervous, having a date with someone who already loves him shouldn't be cause to worry, but he still feels anxious. He knows that what they say is true, but he also knows that this night is important for both of them. Trinity has been in her own world a lot lately. He is aware of how difficult it has been for her, he can sense how estranged she feels in her reconstructed body, full of scars and new metal plugs that are uncomfortable and unfamiliar. He gets that she has a lot to process and he doesn't want to push her, he just wants to remind her about them, help her find out who she is now. His nerves didn’t allow him to eat all day and now he regrets it, when his stomach lets out a loud growl the moment he knocks on the door. 

 

Trinity’s beauty never ceases to amaze Neo. From the first time he saw her, an angel in black vinyl; to the many times on the ship, where the threadbare sweaters only highlighted her charm, he never thought he had a chance with that woman. Now she looks exquisite in her long blue dress and he feels so lucky that she is there, opening the door. She is pale and thin, nevertheless her bright eyes and the way she carries herself make her look majestic. She smiles when she sees Neo and he melts inside. 

 

“Trinity,” he says as he extends his hand to take hers. She bites her lower lip as she gladly gives her hand to him. He takes it and places the softest kiss on her knuckles, not letting her hand go afterward. “I wish I had flowers to give you, but Freya wouldn’t let me take a bouquet. So I brought you this instead” He shows her a small pot with green leaves growing from it. “It’s mint. We can take care of it and when it grows, it’ll do for our morning tea”. 

 

“Neo! Thank you, I love it!” He notices how she almost jumps to kiss him but contains herself. “So, where are we going?”

 

“We’ll take a small walk. Don't worry, it won't be long, I know we get tired quickly these days— he was careful to say we and not you—then I have a surprise for dinner. I want us to have a good time” he says, kissing her on the cheek.

 

Trinity’s hand is still in Neo’s and she lets her fingers interlace with his as he shows her the way to the elevator. Trinity hasn’t left the apartment at all since they arrived and admires everything around her as they walk. There’s no need for small talk, their hands are speaking on their behalf. Neo’s thumb traces small circles on the back of her hand and Trinity can feel herself blushing as she feels the pulse of her blood in her veins. She also notices something wet between her legs growing, something that hadn’t happened to her in this new life. 

 

When the elevator doors close behind them, a familiar feeling runs through them. 

 

“Are you thinking what I'm thinking?” she asks, pressing the left side of her body to his right, not letting go of his hand. 

 

“I think I’m the one supposed to say that” 

 

“No, you are supposed to have sweaty hands” she gives his hand a small squeeze and giggles as she bites her lower lip. He loves that small gesture, so distinctive of her. 

 

 

The elevator ride to the last floor is short and as the doors open Trinity catches a glimpse of where they are and is out of breath. Is she outside? It takes her a minute to make sense of where she is. It looks like a park, a real park with pathways surrounded by something green that looks like grass, but it couldn’t possibly be—and then she sees the flowers. She thought Neo was joking when he told her about the bouquet. There are benches scattered all over the place, an idyllic place for lovers to meet. 

 

Her gaze looks forward to the ample lookout area at the end of the park from where she can see the whole city. It’s fascinating. And then she understands why she thought she was outside: there’s a sky before her, with what seems like real clouds, so close to her that she almost feels like she can touch them if she extends her hand. She hadn’t noticed the sky before, looking only barely through the window of the apartment; in Zion there was no reason to look up to the sky. 

 

“What is this? Are those… clouds?” she asks while looking at her surroundings in astonishment, without noticing that Neo is looking at her in the exact same way.

 

“I thought you would like it”. He says. “Io is different from Zion in many ways, you’ll see. Among other things, it has a biosky, made from light panels, and even its own atmosphere and clouds… that allows growing things that were impossible in Zion”

 

“Oh, no! It’s closed” She points to a sign indicating that the area is closed due to maintenance. 

 

“Oh, that.” Neo smiles mischievously. “A little something Bugs and Lexy helped me with so we could be here alone”. 

 

Trinity smiles and walks towards the railing. He follows her from a small distance. 

 

“It is beautiful,” she murmurs. 

 

“You are beautiful”, Neo comments, coming closer to her, staying a few steps behind.

 

She turns and gives a step toward him, and he reciprocates. She places her hands on his chest, the one on his left directly over his heart, which she can feel beating under her fingers.  

 

“We have waited a long time for this”, she whispers. 

 

It is just like it was on the rooftop except that this time it’s real. “It’s the smell”, Smith had said a long time ago, and he was right. The Matrix could never emulate the real Neo scent, the one she was always unconsciously looking for in Chad, the one that made her feel safe, the one she wants to fill herself with now. Her hand goes to his neck and her fingers trace the unfamiliar piece of hardware that wasn’t there the last time. 

 

Just like on the rooftop, they lean into each other and he looks at her deeply. But unlike on the rooftop, he is not Thomas, with long hair, dark beard, and black coat. This is real-life Neo, with short, salt-and-pepper hair, a soft stubble instead of a full beard, and the kindest eyes she has seen in all of her lives. The eyes that make her fall in love again every time she sees them, the eyes he doesn’t close until the very last second before kissing her. 

 

It has been so long and everything and not a single thing has changed. She remembers their last kiss in the real world. How she felt so cold as everything was going dark around her, how much she wanted to feel his lips over hers one more time. Back then, all his warmth couldn’t stop the chill growing inside of her. She wasn’t afraid of dying, she had prepared all her life for that, she was only sad that she was leaving him alone on his journey and knowing he would never kiss her again. 

 

And yet—

 

Here they are. 

 

This time, his warmth is all she can feel as his breath travels from her mouth to her lungs, filling her with love, with life, with herself. She feels like every cell of her body is waking up, the memories of herself, her true self, becoming tangible; like everything she remembered was black and white and his kiss is filling her with color. “This is not chemistry”, she thinks. “This is magic”. 

 

 

A long time pases, they are sitting on one of the benches and they can’t stop touching and kissing like a couple of teenagers, chatting and laughing, Trinity more laid-back than she had been during the last days.

 

“Are you hungry yet?” Neo finally asks. 

 

“A little” she answers, looking invitingly at him. He can tell, by the way, she is pressing her body into his, that hunger is not the reason why she wants to leave. They get into the elevator and it takes all of their will not to stop the elevator and stay there kissing. When they get to the apartment, Neo feels Trinity startle as they find the door ajar. 

 

“Don’t worry, it’s fine… I got some help tonight and I’m sure they were around to make sure there’s no problem. Come in”, he says, opening the door, his eyes fixed on Trinity, not wanting to miss her reaction as her gaze wanders around their place, mouth agape in awe. There are at least a dozen candles around them, covering every available surface except for the table, which is full of small plates with different kinds of food. 

 

Trinity lets out a deep sigh and grabs Neo’s arm, trying to steady herself, as he feels her falter. He holds her and helps her get to the couch. He tries to give her space but she moves to sit closer to him, placing her hand on his leg. He feels a tingling sensation in the spot where her fingers are. 

 

“Trinity, what is it? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…. You don’t like it?” he asks, clearly concerned.

 

She says no with her head, and her eyes lock into Neo’s. They are red and teary. “I don’t like it—I LOVE it. It’s absolutely stunning. Everything you’ve done, not just tonight—since you found me—You’ve been so patient, waiting for me, bearing with me, and what have I done? I’m a mess!” She’s raising her voice but not at him, angry at herself and the unfairness of life. 

 

“Back there I couldn’t remember who I was and now that I’m out, I keep remembering that life, HER life. I love you so much” she leans into his chest and he wraps his arms around her “but I keep having this feeling that I’m not enough and I’m not used to feeling like this—Trinity doesn’t feel like this—while Tiffany felt like this all the time”.

 

Neo keeps holding her as she starts quietly crying, his heart aching from her pain as she continues. “All this”—her eyes gazing at the candles—“brings back so many things… it makes me feel like myself… being with you makes me feel safe and… it’s like I don’t know how to be me anymore”. 

 

“Baby” He has never called her that but it seems fitting now. He waits for Trinity’s reaction before going on. Back then, Trin was the only pet name she allowed. Now, she cuddles ever further into his chest. “It’s alright. You’ve gone through a lot, you are entitled to feel like this. But it’s gonna be fine, because it’s over. You are here now. I am here and I’m yours. I’m never letting go. We’ll get through this. Together, whatever it takes, whatever you need. I’m with you”.

 

They stay like that, sitting on the couch, Neo cradling her on his lap, letting her cry and delicately kissing her tears away until her tears turn into a smile and then into laughter as he starts tickling her. 

 

“Neo! Stop!” 

 

Chuckling, he stands up and offers his hand so she can stand up as well.

 

“Come, I have something to cheer you up” he leads her to the table where there’s a display of food Trinity had never seen in real life. 

 

“Is this… real fruit?” She asks in wonder. 

 

“It is. Told you Io is different. It wasn’t easy getting all this, but I had great help. By the way, we’ll need to have dinner with Bugs, Lexy, and Berg one of these nights, I had to promise them” 

 

Neo takes a strawberry and places it into Trinity’s mouth; as she bites, a drop of juice slides through her chin. Neo uses his thumb to clean it, her hand comes up and takes his thumb to her mouth to lick it, muttering “I don’t think I’m clean enough”, so he comes closer and uses his mouth and tongue to continue his work. She guides his mouth to hers and they are kissing again, slowly and passionately. His hands wander through her back, moving down trying to reach her ass. Suddenly, Trinity stops and turns around, giving her back to him and crossing her arms over her chest.

 

“Neo… this body… it might not be what you expect. It for sure isn’t what I was expecting either.” Her fake laugh can’t disguise the bitterness in her voice. 

 

“Trinity”, he says in her ear, coming closer and wrapping his arms around her waist. “You know I’d love you in any body. Even in an exomorphic-particle one” She laughs at the reference. “But right now, I have to say” he starts kissing her softly from her ear down through her neck “there’s nothing in this body—your body—that I don’t like”. 

 

He embraces her closer to him as he continues kissing her “Do you remember that time at the garage? It was impossible for me to concentrate, you looked so dazzling. I was a man on a very serious mission and all I could think about was my hands cupping your breasts, they looked so inviting in that tank top—and don’t get me started on your hips, so round and full—I would have fucked you right there if we hadn’t been interrupted” As he speaks, Trinity feels the tangible truth of his words pressing against the back of her thigh and that makes her even wetter than she has been all night. 

 

“Neo…” she groans. “Please…” 

 

He understands exactly what she’s asking of him and he’s more than willing to give it to her. All he wants is to make her remember how powerful she is and at the same time, make her forget all that has happened. He knows only one way to do that. 

 

Neo stops kissing her neck to do something he has never done but always wanted to. He lifts Trinity and carries her bridal style. He’s been out longer than Trinity and she is so thin that he is strong enough to do it. Of course, she doesn't go without protest. 

 

“Neo! Put me down right now!” She tries to sound angry without succeeding. 

 

“God, you are heavy!”

 

“One of these days I’ll have a full medical discharge and I’ll be able to train and I’m gonna kick your ass as I did before!” 

 

Both of them are laughing by the time they reach the bed. Yes, they are fire when they are together but Neo realizes that what makes them special is the little things, all the small gestures and moments that they share. He drops her softly on the bed and lies next to her, both on their sides, looking at each other. They stopped laughing suddenly but both are still smiling. She places her hand on his hip, he places his on her neck. They resume kissing, they take their time. As she said before, they have waited too long. 

 

He unbuttons her dress as she lifts his shirt, both of them silent, undressing each other reverently, exploring everything that is familiar and everything that is new. Trinity is tense at first and Neo notices how she relaxes as she discovers that his body has also changed. Both spend a long time examining their new plugs, touching them, caressing them, part of who they are now. 

 

Touching her skin, he realizes how true the Analyst’s words were: she is the only home he’s ever had. Her moans when his fingers finally encounter her folds are the sweetest music to his ears and when he enters her, everything is suddenly right in the world. 

 

Sex is always great, but nothing feels as good as having her resting on his chest afterward. “You know, Trin? I know all this hasn’t been easy” His voice is soft but determined “And that we have a long road ahead of us. What happened is awful and there’s no way around it. But we are together now and I intend to spend all my time and energy in making you happy, in being happy WITH you”. 

 

Trinity lifts her head and looks at him longly. He has always loved her eyes, never the same shade of blue. It’s the last thing he sees before falling asleep. 

___ 

 

When Trinity senses Neo sleeping, she kisses his forehead and gets out of the bed. She wraps herself in a robe and goes to the living room where all the candles are still lit. She is about to start blowing them out, but she stops herself. She has never been religious, but right then, she prays. She thinks about Callie, about how smart and stubborn she was. She learned how to be a mother with her. She prays for her and she blows a candle. Then she thinks about Brandon, bad at school, great at making friends. She blows a candle. She thinks about Donnie, her little one. The only of her children—of those children—that still wanted to play with her. She blows a candle. The fact that it was all fictitious doesn’t mean she doesn’t need to mourn it, they will always have a space in her memory and a place in her heart. She keeps blowing candles while thinking about all the things that she left behind. Every candle she blows out carries a farewell with it. She says goodbye to the house that she turned into a home, to her life with Chad. To her supposed sister. To Kush, to the garage, to the rest of her so-called friends. Even to Skroce, who made her laugh every time she got her coffee. 

 

When she has blown all the candles, she feels relief, like that heavy weight that had been crushing her finally lifts. Neo is right. They are going to be fine. 

 

She goes back to bed, Neo is still sleeping. She sits by his side and starts tousling his short hair. She knows it’s been an exhausting day but she needs to tell him before going to sleep. 

 

“Neo…” He smiles at the sound of her voice before opening his eyes. “I love you, Neo” 

 

“I love you more, Trin” He lifts the covers and opens his arms for her to join him. 

 

As she’s falling asleep in his arms, it hits her. What really happened. All those memories, all the lost time, this body—her body—it is not a tragedy. It is a miracle. She is alive. He is alive. They are unharmed and whole. Everything else will sort itself out. For the first time since this new life began, she’s excited about the idea of going back into the Matrix and helping Neo fly again.