I had not hugged a friend or a family member for more than two years.
I hadn't had that 1 until recently when my sister-in-law came for a brief visit. For everyone's safety, we met outside. Despite the 2 weather in January, her hug warmed me from the inside out. I realized how much I 3 embracing loved ones — the warmth that 4 long after our arms untwined (松开).
There was war in my home town in Bosnia, so I found every moment was full of 5. On one peaceful morning, I begged my mom to let me go outside after weeks wilting (蔫) indoors. She 6 agreed. I was outside for only 10 minutes 7 I was caught in an explosion. I 8 to my neighbor's house for safety and threw my arms around her neck while my legs were 9 underneath me. She hugged me with both arms and 10 me into her house. I was still in her arms when the ambulance arrived.
11, I made a full physical recovery, but the emotional 12 never left me. Years later there was another explosion near my house, when my father was away to buy a loaf of bread. When he came back inside, I gave him the biggest hug 13, choked in tears as I held him tight.
That same night my parents managed to arrange my escape from our war-torn city. They desperately wanted at least some of my childhood to be 14. I was 16 and came to America on my own. A generous host family took me 15. Over next several months, I suffered 16. The only way I shared my feelings was by giving Oscar, their dog, a big 17.
Now, due to our pandemic lives, hugging a stranger is the 18 thing on our minds. For many of us, 19 hugging a relative or a friend comes with stress and anxiety because of risks and precautions (防范). I 20 that in the not-so-distant future we can safely hold one another again, a friend, relative, or a stranger.
