Imetmystep-momforthefirsttimewhenImovedtoAmerica.ThatnightbeforeIwenttobedshecametomyroom,.whichwasthefirstroomIhadeverhadformyown.Shetoldmeshewasgladtohavemeandthatshewouldtakegoodcareofme.BecauseIwasnevershownaffectionasachild,Ididnotknowhowtoreact,soIjuststaredather.Tothisday,Ihaveahardtimelettingothersbeaffectionatetowardsme.

　　Sheaskedmeforahug,butIdidnotknowwhattheword“hug”meant.So,Ijustlookedatherwithaquestioningexpressiononmyface.Butshedidn’tgiveup.Shecalledmyfatherintotheroomandaskedhimtoexplaintomewhatshemeant.WhenhedidIlookedatmynewstep-momandwonderedwhyshewantedtohugme.ShethentoldmeitwasbecauseshelovedmeandyouhugpeoplewhenyoulovethemSosheopenedherarmswideandtimidlyIopenedmineandwehugged.

　　ThatwasmyveryfirsthugandIwaselevenyearsoldatthattime.I’mtwenty-threeyearsoldnowand,thankfully,Ihavereceivedmanyhugssincethen.