**Beyond the Threshold of Pain**

The fluorescent lights of the operating room flickered above me, casting an eerie glow on the faces of the medical staff. I felt the cold, hard surface of the operating table beneath me, and the sensation of tubes and wires inserted into my body. Hange's face was still etched in my mind, his eyes filled with a mix of fear and determination. As the surgery progressed, I was trapped in a world of darkness, unable to move or speak. The anesthetic had taken hold, and I was at the mercy of the medical team. I could feel the surgeon's hands moving, probing and repairing the damage to my body. The pain was still there, but it was distant, muffled by the layers of medication and my own body's response to trauma. Time lost all meaning as I drifted in and out of consciousness. I was vaguely aware of the beeps and whirs of the medical equipment, the murmurs of the surgical team, and the soft, gentle voice of Hange, whispering words of encouragement in my ear. The hours ticked by, and I was slowly brought back to the world of the living. The anesthesia wore off, and I was left with a dull, throbbing pain that seemed to permeate every cell of my body. I tried to move, but my body felt heavy, unresponsive. Hange's face appeared above me once more, his eyes red-rimmed from lack of sleep. He smiled weakly, and I could see the exhaustion etched on his face. "You're going to be okay," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "You're going to make it through this." I tried to speak, but my voice was hoarse, barely a whisper. Hange leaned in, his ear inches from my lips. "I...I'm sorry," I stammered, my words barely intelligible. Hange's face contorted in concern. "Sorry for what?" he asked, his voice gentle. I struggled to find the words, to express the emotions that were swirling inside me. "For...for being a burden," I stammered, my eyes welling up with tears. Hange's face softened, and he smiled. "You're not a burden," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "You're the love of my life, and I'll take care of you, no matter what." As he spoke, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. I knew that I was in good hands, that Hange would be there to support me through the darkest of times. But as I looked into his eyes, I saw a glimmer of uncertainty, a sense of fear that we both knew that our lives were about to change forever. The medical team began to move around me, checking my vital signs, and adjusting the equipment. Hange's hand found mine, and he squeezed it gently. "You're going to be okay," he whispered again, his voice a promise, a vow that he would be there to see me through the trials that lay ahead. As I lay there, trapped in a body that was no longer my own, I knew that I had to find a way to come to terms with my new reality. The road ahead would be long and arduous, but with Hange by my side, I felt a sense of hope, a sense of determination that I would not let this injury define me. I would find a way to adapt, to overcome, and to live a life that was still full of purpose and meaning.