**The Lonely Wait**

I sat on the sofa, my ears ringing from the cacophony of sounds that filled my mind. Every creak of the floor, every hum of the air conditioner, and every tick of the clock seemed amplified, making my head spin. My eyes, or rather, the empty sockets where my eyes used to be, felt like two voided wells, a constant reminder of the blindness that had been my reality since birth. My autism spectrum disorder made every sensation feel like a thousand needles piercing my skin, and my severe hypersensitivity made it hard for me to discern what was real and what wasn't. But I wasn't alone. I had Hange, my loving husband, who had taken me under his wing and promised to care for me. He was the CEO of NeuroSpark, a cutting-edge tech company that had revolutionized the world with its innovative products. Despite his busy schedule, he always made sure to come back to me, and for a brief moment, I felt like I was the center of his universe. As I waited for Hange to come home, my mind wandered back to my childhood. My father had abandoned me when I was just a baby, leaving me with a deep-seated fear of being alone. My separation anxiety had become a constant companion, one that I couldn't shake off no matter how hard I tried. And as a gay man, I had always felt like I didn't quite fit in, like I was searching for a sense of belonging that seemed forever out of reach. The door opened, and Hange walked in, looking like he had been through a war. His eyes were sunken, his skin pale, and his hair disheveled. He dropped his briefcase on the floor and let out a deep sigh. "Hey, sweetheart. I'm back.. today was pretty busy," he said, his voice laced with exhaustion. I beamed with joy, my face stretching into a wide smile. I loved seeing Hange, even if he did look like he was about to collapse. I nodded enthusiastically, trying to speak, but all that came out was a series of babbling sounds. Hange knew I was excited to see him, and he smiled weakly in response. "You were waiting for me?" he asked, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for something. I nodded again, my heart racing with excitement. I had been waiting for what felt like an eternity for Hange to come home. I was scared of being alone, and whenever Hange left me, my anxiety spiked. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of uncertainty, and Hange was my lifeline. Hange's expression softened, and he took a step closer to me. But then, he seemed to hesitate, his eyes flicking to the clock on the wall. It was almost 2:30, and he had to wake up in a few hours. He looked at me, and for a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of guilt in his eyes. "I'm sorry, I...I'm sorry," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm too tired, baby. I need to sleep. I promise I'll make it up to you tomorrow." I felt a pang of sadness, and my eyes began to well up with tears. I didn't understand why Hange couldn't cuddle with me, why he couldn't stay. My mind began to regress, spiraling back to a time when I was a scared, lost child, abandoned and alone. Hange's words had triggered something deep within me, and I felt my PTSD kicking in. My body began to shake, and tears streamed down my face. I whimpered, a high-pitched sound that seemed to come from nowhere. Hange's expression crumpled, and he rushed to my side. "Baby, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you," he cooed, his voice soft and soothing. But it was too late. My mind had already spiraled out of control, and I was lost in a sea of fear and anxiety. Hange tried to comfort me, but I was beyond consolation. I was a newborn baby, scared and alone, and all I wanted was the comfort of my mother's arms. Or, in this case, Hange's arms. I reached out, my hands flailing wildly, searching for something, anything, to hold onto. And Hange, bless his heart, obliged, pulling me into a tight hug. As I buried my face in his chest, I felt a glimmer of peace wash over me. But it was short-lived, as my mind began to wander back to the fears that had been plaguing me. What if Hange left me again? What if I was alone forever? The thoughts swirled in my head, a constant reminder of the fears that I had to face. And as I clung to Hange, I knew that I had to find a way to overcome them, to learn to trust him and myself. But for now, I just held on, and let the tears wash over me, as I whispered a single word: "Hange..."