Many happy returns

It was a bad day, that day. The thought of being alone on the flight was eating at me. She had come to see me off, but she would leave after a few minutes. I held onto my bags and tried to concentrate on the moving queues, the information boards, numb.

She gasps suddenly. Then her hand is in mine and I am being steered firmly, away from the check-in area, through the crowds, and abruptly, stopped face to face with a boy I do not know.

I look at him, confused, then at her.

"Look," she says, pointing.

I think, of all the days.

He is holding a large, white, hand-made sign. It reads: Free Hugs.

I start to laugh, a spontaneous prayer of thanks. When you need it most, the world returns it to you tenfold.

Then I hug him.