“Touch has a memory.”

– John Keats, English romantic poet

“Don’t touch me!”

She cringed as if something multi-legged had just crawled across the back of her hand. Sam’s attempt to offer his wife a shoulder rub had been greeted with a less than favourable response.

“You know I don’t like being touched,” she said. “Stop it!”  

Sam had always known that his wife was not the “huggy” type but the growing lack of physical contact was becoming an issue. Sam was aware of his wife’s history – a clingy, emotionally needy mother and an inappropriate father. A combination that had made her shy away from most forms of physical contact. Holding hands was rare and hugs all but out of t...

Please subscribe to keep reading.