I was nice. It made him feel better all of a sudden, and sad all at once. It made him homesick even when hugging never happened at home.

It made him wonder if this was what it would have felt like to be hugged by a mother he couldn't remember.

Eventually, she let go, and he pulled away and he sniffed, as if he was being dismissive, but maybe that sniff was covering up something else. Maybe.

"Well then, glad you got that out of your system."