Chapter 2: Fractured Emotions

As I buried my face in Hange's chest, I felt a sense of calm wash over me, but it was short-lived. 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. I whimpered, a high-pitched sound that seemed to come from nowhere, as my body began to shake. Hange's arms tightened around me, holding me close as he whispered soothing words into my ear. "You're safe, baby. I'm here. I'll never leave you." His voice was a balm to my frazzled nerves, but I couldn't shake off the feeling of abandonment that had been ingrained in me since childhood. As we sat there, wrapped in each other's arms, I felt a sense of comfort that I had never experienced before. Hange's presence was a reminder that I wasn't alone, that I had someone who cared for me, someone who understood me. But even as I felt this sense of comfort, I knew that I had to confront my fears, to learn to trust Hange and myself. Hange's phone buzzed, breaking the silence between us. He hesitated for a moment before answering it. I recognized the voice on the other end as his business partner, Elijah. They spoke in hushed tones, but I could sense the urgency in Elijah's voice. Hange's expression turned serious, and he listened intently, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for something. As he listened, I felt a pang of anxiety. What was happening? Why was Elijah calling at this hour? I tried to push the thoughts away, but they lingered, making my heart racing with anticipation. Hange's conversation with Elijah seemed to be going on forever, and I felt like I was being pulled back into the abyss of my fears. When Hange finally hung up, he turned to me, his eyes filled with concern. "Baby, I need to go to the office. There's an emergency." My heart sank, and I felt a wave of panic wash over me. No, no, no. He couldn't leave me now. Not when I was feeling so vulnerable. But Hange's expression softened, and he pulled me into a tight hug. "I'll be back soon, I promise. I'll make it up to you, okay?" I nodded, trying to trust him, trying to believe that he would come back to me. But as he got ready to leave, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off, that something was waiting for me in the shadows, waiting to pounce. As the door closed behind him, I felt a sense of unease wash over me. I was alone again, left to face my fears and anxieties. But this time, I knew that I wasn't completely alone. I had Hange, and I had his promise to come back to me. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart, and waited for his return, my eyes fixed on the clock, ticking away the seconds until he would be back in my arms.