This is what affection is.

It’s the moment of goodbye. The moment of departure. You don’t think, you act. Maybe sometimes there’s the hesitation (“do I really want to touch this person?” or “do I smell bad?”). But in all, it can’t be planned—for the moment of two people coming together for a hug, a kiss, or the agreed upon goodbye fist punch.

The most spontaneous act that I know of.

Affection is the act of falling in the moment.

Hugs, kisses…the gentle touch on the shoulder.

You can’t plan for it, because then it would not be genuine. It is spontaneous, born out of the moment. If you anticipate it, it ruins the magic and the joy. It becomes an obligation instead of the swirling human intimacy.

Almost 5 years ago, I was so pleasantly surprised that as I left the car—not wanting the awkward moment to end with the driving shift in the way…I was about to just flee from the scene, Chris turned off the ignition and got out of the car. Without any hesitation, he said, “Let me give you a hug.”

He ran from his side of the car to mine and gave me a hug. Unpretentious, unassuming, confidently, spontaneously.

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