A little goes a long way

Just do it

Go ahead.
....
Go ahead. I'm right here.
....
Come one Kels. You can do it.
....
Just do it.
....I don't want to.
Just do it.
Can't we do someone else?
Just do it.
Can we do it somewhere els-
Kels.
...
Now is the time. So do it.
...
I'm right here for you.
...
Do it.
And with that, I turned around, marching my feet to the exact place where they didn't want to be. Room 1. The door hovered in front like a giant, taunting me. My stomach growled. Down the hall, the smells of food and the sounds of gossiping teens enticed my senses. I thought about turning back, but the feeling in my gut wouldn't leave. I had to this.
I'm just going to say hi is all. Just. Going to say hi.
Lifting my hand like a cinderblock, I knocked on the door. From inside, I could hear chattering and laughter. Then, the incoming footsteps.
Dum. Dum. Dum. Dum. Dum. Dum. Dum.
My heart increased with the volume of the footsteps. Then, the door opened.
"Why hello there!"
A kindly middle-aged women with flame red hair stood in the doorway. She wore glasses.
"What brings you on by?"
I swallowed.
"I-I came to tell everyone hi." I said.
"Oh, well, come on in!"
She stepped back. I crossed the threshold. My heart rate skyrocketed as I caught the faces of the kids all staring at me.
"Everyone, this young lady would like to say hello."
"Oh, really?" Said one of the other teachers. She was African-American, middle-aged as well.
"Well that's very kind of you." Said another one. This one was male, also African-American.
"Hi." Said a female teacher. She looked like the sweetest grandma with her big smile.
"Hello." This one wasn't from the teacher. It was from one of the students. At first, I couldn't quite catch it. But, he waved so I waved back.
You can do this.
I walked over to him and asked,
"What's your name?"
"Taylor." His voice came out nasally and whiny and his face dropped like a sad munchkin.
"What's yours?"
"Kels."
"Nice to meet you."
He stretched out his hand. I don't know why I blinked, but I did. His hand sat there in space.
Waiting.
With one of the deepest breaths in my life, I took it and shook. Then, he hugged me. I mean, REAL HUG hug. Not a side hug, or one those "What up dawg," hugs. No. this was a real authentic, genuine, albeit very tight hug. Nearby, one of the teachers gasped.
"Oh no, Taylor! Don't do that!" She walked over, but I shook my head. He let go *finally* but I could still feel the hug.
Warm.
Soft.
Caring.
In that instant, I decided to hug everyone in the room. No hesitation. I just did it. Afterward, I cried so hard. I don't know why, but I just felt...warm.
And loved.
Hugs are a wonder, aren't they?