**Chapter 3: Echoes of Memories**

The darkness began to take on a life of its own, a sentient entity that wrapped itself around me like a living shroud. I felt myself becoming one with the void, my memories and emotions bleeding into the emptiness like watercolors on wet paper. The beeps of the machines grew fainter, a distant hum that seemed to vibrate through every cell in my body. In the depths of my mind, I started to recall fragments of my past. Memories long buried, forgotten, or suppressed began to resurface. I saw myself as a child, playing in the sun-drenched fields of Shiganshina, laughing and chasing after birds. The image was fleeting, but it left an ache in my chest, a pang of longing for a life I once knew. Hange's face appeared in my mind's eye, his eyes blazing with determination and love. I remembered the way he used to smile, the way his hair curled slightly at the nape of his neck. The memories came flooding back, a tidal wave of emotions that threatened to overwhelm me. As I drifted through the darkness, I began to experience strange visions. I saw the walls of Wall Maria, the fortifications that had once protected humanity from the titan hordes. I saw the faces of my friends, the familiar faces of those I had grown up with. They were all smiling, laughing, and calling out to me, but their voices were distant, fading into the void. The visions were disjointed, fragmented, and often disturbing. I saw the titan's attack on Shiganshina, the destruction and chaos that had ravaged our world. I saw the fear and terror etched on the faces of those around me. And I saw myself, standing amidst the carnage, my heart heavy with grief and guilt. The memories and visions swirled around me, a maelstrom of emotions that threatened to consume me. I felt myself being pulled apart, my sense of identity fragmenting into a thousand shards. And yet, amidst the chaos, I sensed a glimmer of hope. A hope that I would one day awaken, that I would one day find my way back to the world of the living. In the darkness, I began to hear whispers. Whispers of encouragement, whispers of love. Hange's voice, soft and gentle, seemed to be calling to me, urging me to hold on. The whispers grew louder, a steady stream of sound that seemed to pulse with my own heartbeat. I focused on the whispers, letting them guide me through the void. I felt myself being drawn towards the sound, towards the love and warmth that it represented. And as I drifted closer, I sensed a change within myself. A spark of life, a flicker of consciousness, began to stir. The darkness was still there, but it was no longer absolute. I could see a glimmer of light, a faint glow that seemed to be growing brighter by the second. The machines beeped louder, a staccato rhythm that seemed to match the pounding of my heart. I was coming back, slowly but surely. The whispers grew louder, Hange's voice clearer. I could feel his presence, his love and devotion washing over me like a wave. And as I emerged from the darkness, I knew that I would never be alone again.