I Hugged A Stranger Today

I saw her in the doorway

Tears streaming down her face

We were strangers to each other

Meant to meet here in this place

Others walked on past her

Without a word or glance

I simply could not do that

And decided to take a chance

I asked her politely

“Hello, are you okay?”

She said that she was fine

But, I couldn’t walk away

Instead, I walked up toward her

Around her, my arms did go

I hugged her warm and gently

I cared, and she should know

We didn’t exchange a name

And went our separate ways

But my life feels much fuller

I hugged a stranger today

By Vonda Maxwell Newsome, December 2017