Nora Swango Stanger: ‘I need a hug’

The young woman standing in front of me had always been intensely private. For the several years I’d known her, she was the type to hover comfortably at the edges of a gathering, quiet and reserved. While she always responded pleasantly to my attempts at conversation, I never felt like I truly knew her. But this day was different. She was hurting. Out of everyone, I was the person she sought out to make a simple, raw request: “I need a hug.” I wrapped my arms around her and held her as tightly as I could. She buried her head into my neck and wept. Later, I would discover the deep pain that drove her to risk so much vulnerability with me. Since that afternoon, we have shared many sensitive, honest conversations. Every single time, I feel deeply humbled and honored that she chose me. That moment brought back a vivid memory from years earlier. My daughter, Hannah, regularly ran the Flying Pig Half Marathon in Cincinnati.

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