"Rebirth of Suffering"

The dim fluorescent lights of the medical infirmary flickered above me, casting an eerie glow on the sterile white walls. I was vaguely aware of the beeping of machines and the soft murmur of voices, but my gaze was fixed on one person - Hange Zoë, my beloved boyfriend and fellow member of the Survey Corps. His eyes, usually bright with enthusiasm, were now red-rimmed and sunken, his face etched with worry and exhaustion. I tried to speak, to reassure him that I was okay, but my voice was muffled by the endotracheal tube lodged deep in my throat. The ventilator beside me hummed softly, doing the work of my diaphragm, which was now a weak and useless muscle. I was paralyzed from the chest down, unable to move, unable to breathe on my own. The memories of that fateful day came flooding back, like a nightmare that refused to end. Our squad had been ambushed by Titans while on an expedition outside the walls. I remembered the chaos, the sounds of gunfire and screams, and then...nothing. Everything had gone dark. When I came to, I was in a blur of pain and confusion, my body broken and battered. The medical team had rushed me to the infirmary, and I vaguely recalled the bumpy ride, my heart stopping multiple times along the way. Hange's face had been etched in my mind, his eyes filled with fear as he clutched my hand, refusing to let go. As I lay there, I was acutely aware of the disconnection between my body and my brain. My spinal cord, specifically the C1 and C2 vertebrae, had been severely injured, resulting in internal decapitation. The sensation was like nothing I could have ever imagined - my upper body felt disconnected from my lower body, as if I was a puppet with severed strings. Temperature changes were agonizing, and I could feel even the slightest fluctuations in the air conditioning. The cold metal bed beneath me seemed to seep into my bones, making my skin prickle with goosebumps. I shivered, despite the warmth of the infirmary. Hange's hand tightened around mine, and I felt a surge of love and gratitude towards him. He was my rock, my everything. I wanted to tell him that I was okay, that I would get through this, but the tube in my throat made it impossible. The doctor's voice cut through my thoughts, "We're doing everything we can to stabilize her condition, but...it's going to be a long road to recovery." Hange's grip on my hand tightened, and I knew he was fighting back tears. As the machines beeped and whirred around me, I closed my eyes, letting the exhaustion wash over me. I knew I had a long and difficult journey ahead, but with Hange by my side, I felt a glimmer of hope. I would get through this, as long as he was there to hold my hand.