Madoline Zola2 months agoI've hugged my parents, siblings, and a friend when he was upset, but I’m very guarded and have difficulty noticing what’s going on emotionally. Once, when I hugged my mom, I suddenly remembered being very small and still enjoying hugs, and I felt sad that I couldn’t feel that same comfort anymore. It felt like a muscle that had been tense for a long time, and now it’s too stiff and cramped to relax. When I hugged my friend, who was upset and shaking, I was surprised and felt sad for him. My sister is always cold, and I always joke that she feels like she’s vibrating. Last night, I had a strange, long dream. In it, I’m in love with someone but can’t do anything about it. He came up and hugged me, and I didn’t realize who it was at first because I couldn’t see well, but then he said something. The hug lasted a long time, and I started to feel like his body was running next to mine. It’s hard to describe, but it felt like his existence was pulsating alongside mine. It almost felt like standing next to a power generator or a car that’s on but not driving—feeling the energy without it moving. Of course, it was just a dream, so neither of our bodies actually existed, but it’s left me struggling to wake up and start my day. I’m wondering what it would really feel like to hug someone you love.139
Madoline ZolaMadoline Zola