Fading Embers

The warmth of Hange's hand on your hair was a comforting sensation, one that you clung to as you navigated the dark waters of your mind. Your grip on the doll tightened, and you felt a sense of panic rising up as Hange gently tried to pry it loose from your grasp. You whimpered, and your eyes welled up with tears again as he whispered soft words of reassurance in your ear. As the minutes ticked by, Hange's patience and love for you only seemed to grow stronger. He didn't try to force you to confront reality; instead, he let you be, letting you wallow in your grief and sadness. His hand continued to stroke your hair, and his warm breath on your ear was a gentle reminder that he was there, that he wasn't going anywhere. The room around you was quiet, the only sound the soft hum of the air conditioner and the gentle rise and fall of Hange's chest as he breathed. You felt safe, cocooned in the warmth of his presence, but your mind was a jumble of emotions, a tangled mess of grief, sadness, and despair. As the darkness closed in around you, you began to feel a sense of detachment, as if you were floating above your body, watching yourself and Hange from afar. The doll in your arms seemed to grow heavier, its weight a constant reminder of what you had lost. You felt a pang of guilt, wondering if you were somehow replacing your baby with this lifeless object, but Hange's words echoed in your mind: "It's okay, my love. It's okay to grieve. It's okay to feel." The hours passed, and the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the room. Hange's hand never left your hair, and his eyes never left your face. He was vigilant, watching over you as you navigated the dark landscape of your mind. As the stars began to twinkle outside, Hange gently shifted, his movements slow and deliberate. He pulled you close, his arms wrapping around you like a warm blanket, and you felt the doll press against his chest. You didn't resist, didn't try to pull away, as he rocked you gently back and forth. In that moment, you felt a sense of peace, a fragile, flickering flame of hope that Hange's love and presence had kindled within you. It was a small spark, but it was enough to keep you going, to keep you clinging to the doll and to Hange, to keep you tethered to the world around you. As you drifted off to sleep, lulled by the warmth of Hange's body and the gentle rhythm of his heartbeat, you felt the doll slipping from your grasp. But instead of panicking, you let it go, trusting that Hange would catch it, that he would hold it for you, and for a moment, you felt a sense of freedom, a sense of release from the weight of your grief.