"Shadows of Abandonment"

As Hange's arms opened, I felt a surge of desperation and flung myself towards him, my hands grasping for his face. He caught me, holding me tightly as I sobbed uncontrollably. His warm breath on my skin, his gentle whispers of reassurance, slowly calmed my racing heart. But even as I clung to him, I couldn't shake off the feeling that he was slipping away from me, that his exhaustion and stress were eroding the foundation of our relationship. Hange held me for what felt like an eternity, his hands stroking my hair, his voice whispering sweet nothings in my ear. But as the minutes ticked by, I could sense his fatigue growing, his body tense with the effort of holding me. I knew I had to let go, but the thought of releasing him, of being separated from him, was unbearable. Slowly, Hange pried me loose, his eyes filled with a deep sadness. "Baby, I need to get some rest," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'll be back, I promise. We'll talk in the morning, okay?" I nodded, still sniffling, as he led me to the couch. He pulled a blanket over me, his fingers brushing against my face in a gentle caress. As he turned to leave, I felt a pang of fear. What if he didn't come back? What if he left me alone in the darkness? "Hange?" I called out, my voice trembling. He turned back, his eyes questioning. "Yes?" "Don't go," I whispered, my heart racing with anxiety. He hesitated, his face a mask of conflicting emotions. For a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of uncertainty, of doubt, in his eyes. But then, his expression softened, and he sat down beside me, taking my hand in his. "I'm not going anywhere," he said, his voice firm. "I'll be right here, with you. Sleep, baby. I'll be here when you wake up." As he spoke, I felt a fragile sense of peace settle over me. I closed my eyes, my fingers intertwining with his, and let the darkness wash over me. But even as I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't shake off the feeling that the shadows of abandonment were closing in around me, waiting to pounce. The hours ticked by, and I slept fitfully, my dreams haunted by visions of Hange's face, his eyes growing distant, his smile fading into the darkness. When I woke up, the room was bathed in a pale, eerie light, and Hange was nowhere to be seen. I sat up with a start, my heart racing, and that's when I saw it: a piece of paper on the coffee table, with a note scrawled in Hange's hasty handwriting. "Gone to meeting. Will be back soon. Love you." I stared at the note, my mind reeling with questions. What meeting? Why hadn't he told me? And how long would he be gone? The shadows of abandonment closed in around me once more, and I felt myself drowning in a sea of uncertainty.