Heart poundingly good hugs abound. Has it been awhile since a strong man has hugged you? Inhale and think of all the times you’ve wanted affection. when you finally get your arms around them, you aren’t exactly looking at them, are you? You are over their shoulder or in their shoulder. Air or skin or clothing.

Your jaw tickles, you want to sneeze, but you don’t because underneath that is all the heart really wants. Touch. Amen, you, touch. God bless flesh and bone.

Jouncing along afterwards, you enter the grocery store and think of all the questions you are going to ask your husband, to cover up the fact that you hugged another man.

But the best way to end the guilt is just to hug your husband. For longer than a few seconds. And just things happen from there.