## Chapter 2: Fractured Moments

The darkness closed in around me like a suffocating shroud, and I was lost in a sea of emotions, unable to find my way back to shore. Hange's voice was a distant murmur, trying to calm me down, but I was beyond consolation. I knew only that I was alone, and I wouldn't get the love and comfort I craved. As the tears continued to flow, Hange's guilt and regret grew, and he wondered how he could have made things worse. He knelt down beside me, his arms opening to envelop me, but then he hesitated, knowing he couldn't give me the comfort I needed. His exhaustion was palpable, and I could sense the weight of his fatigue bearing down on him. I, however, was a whirlpool of emotions, my mind reeling with the fear of abandonment and the desperate need for connection. In a moment of instinct, Hange reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. It was a tender gesture, one that usually brought me comfort, but tonight, it only seemed to heighten my sense of despair. I turned my face into his touch, seeking solace, but he quickly withdrew his hand, his eyes filled with a deep sadness. "I'm sorry, baby," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "I'll try to do better, I promise." The words were empty, though. I knew that Hange was trying, but it wasn't enough. I needed more from him, more than just words and fleeting moments of affection. I needed him to be present, to be fully engaged with me, to understand me in a way that few others did. As the tears began to subside, Hange helped me to my feet, and we walked to the kitchen in silence. He made me a warm cup of milk, and I sipped it listlessly, my mind still reeling from the emotional turmoil. The familiar routine was comforting, but it didn't fill the void that had opened up inside me. Hange sat down beside me, his eyes never leaving mine, and I could sense the depth of his regret. He knew that he had failed me, that he hadn't been there for me in the way that I needed. The weight of his guilt was crushing, and I could feel it bearing down on both of us. In the stillness of the night, I reached out and took Hange's hand, my fingers intertwining with his in a desperate bid for connection. He looked at me, his eyes searching mine, and for a moment, we just sat there, the only sound the gentle hum of the refrigerator in the background. It was a fragile moment, one that could have shattered at any second, but in that instant, I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, Hange and I could find our way back to each other, could rebuild the bond that had been fraying for so long. But as the night wore on, and the darkness closed in around us, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were standing on the precipice of something, and I wasn't sure if we would be able to find our way back.