**Chapter 2: Echoes of Silence**

The darkness slowly receded, and I found myself drifting through a sea of fog, my mind cloudy and disoriented. I tried to move, but my body felt heavy, unresponsive. A faint beeping sound echoed in the distance, growing louder with each passing moment. I struggled to open my eyes, but they felt like lead weights, refusing to budge. Hange's face materialized above me, his eyes red-rimmed from lack of sleep. He smiled weakly, relief etched on his features. "Hey, you're awake," he whispered, his voice trembling. I tried to speak, but my voice was barely a whisper. The endotracheal tube was still in place, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of discomfort. Hange quickly removed it, and I took a deep breath, wincing in pain. The medical staff bustled around me, checking my vitals and adjusting the equipment. I tried to focus on Hange, but my gaze kept drifting away. I was aware of the pain, a dull ache that seemed to permeate every part of my body. Hange's hand grasped mine, his fingers intertwining with mine. "You've been in a coma for weeks," he said, his voice cracking. "We were worried we'd lose you." I managed a weak smile, and Hange's eyes welled up with tears. He leaned in close, his forehead touching mine. "I'm so sorry, Levi," he whispered. "I should have protected you better." I tried to shake my head, but a wave of pain washed over me. Hange's grip on my hand tightened. "Don't try to move, okay?" he said. "You're still recovering." The medical staff began to explain my condition, their words a jumbled mess. I caught snippets of phrases – spinal cord injury, paralysis, long road to recovery. Hange's face was etched with worry, and I knew he was shouldering the burden of my care. As the days turned into weeks, I found myself trapped in a never-ending cycle of physical therapy and rehabilitation. Hange was by my side every step of the way, helping me with my exercises, feeding me, and talking to me. He became my rock, my support system. But despite the progress I made, I couldn't shake off the feeling of loss. I had been a member of the survey corps, a warrior who had faced Titans head-on. Now, I was confined to a bed, unable to move, unable to fight. The guilt and frustration built up inside me, threatening to consume me. Hange sensed my emotions and pulled me into a tight hug. "You're still you, Levi," he whispered. "You're still strong, still brave. We just need to find a new way to fight, that's all." I looked up at him, my eyes searching for reassurance. Hange's smile was infectious, and I found myself smiling back. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way to overcome this, to find a new purpose in life. As I drifted off to sleep, Hange's hand still clasped in mine, I knew that I had a long journey ahead of me. But with him by my side, I felt a glimmer of hope, a spark that refused to be extinguished.