**Chapter 1: The Weight of Abandonment**

I sat on the sofa, my ears ringing from the cacophony of sounds that constantly bombarded me. Every creak of the floor, every hum of the refrigerator, every tick of the clock seemed amplified, making my head spin. My eyes, though blind, felt like they were drinking in the darkness, searching for some respite from the sensory overload that plagued me every waking moment. I was a prisoner in my own skin, trapped in a world that was both too loud and too dark. As I sat there, I felt a sense of anticipation building in my chest. I had been waiting for what felt like an eternity for Hange to come home. My husband, my love, my everything. He was the CEO of NeuroSpark, a company that pushed the boundaries of technology and science. I often joked that he was a mad scientist, and in many ways, he was. But to me, he was just Hange, the man who had taken me in and made me feel seen, even when the world around me seemed to be moving too fast. The door opened, and I heard Hange's tired sigh. "Hey, sweetheart. I'm back.. today was pretty busy," he said, his voice laced with exhaustion. I smiled, my heart skipping a beat as I heard his footsteps approaching. "You were waiting for me?" he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice. I nodded, my ears folding back in response to the sound of my own ragged breathing. I had been waiting for him, sitting here in the dark, listening to the world outside my window. I knew he had to wake up early, get ready for another long day of meetings and paperwork. It was almost 2:30, and I knew he had to be up in a few hours. Hange's eyes scanned my face, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of guilt. He looked... tired. His voice was laced with a weariness that made me want to reach out and comfort him. But before he could even take off his jacket, he said, "I'm sorry, I can't cuddle right now.. I'm too tired and all I want to do is sleep.." My heart sank. His words cut through me like a knife, and I felt my separation anxiety spiking. I had been left alone for so long, and now, when he finally came home, he was telling me he couldn't be with me? Tears streamed down my face, and I felt my body begin to shake. Hange's expression changed, and he looked at me with regret. "Baby, I'm sorry," he said, but it was too late. I was already regressing, my mind slipping back into the mind of a newborn baby. I was scared, lost, and overwhelmed. The world around me was too much, and I just wanted to be held, to be comforted. As I sat there, crying, Hange's face blurred in front of me. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of emotions, unable to escape the crushing weight of my own fears. My PTSD was screaming, reminding me of all the times I had been left alone, abandoned by the one person who was supposed to love me. And now, as I looked at Hange, I felt like I was staring into the face of a stranger. A stranger who was supposed to love me, but couldn't. Not now, not when I needed him most.