You never used to hug Richard when the two of you dated.

It was just something you didn't do. Physical touch was there, but not constant. It never felt like the right time. Richard, on the other hand, was simply too shy with you.

Sometimes he thought he cared about you a little too much. So much that it made him nervous to even interact with you. The fear of scaring you away was permanent in his mind, lingering even when you both were comfortable and calm.

Slowly, his texts started to dwindle. His calls went from barely anything to nothing. He stopped showing up at your house.

You didn't even get to say goodbye.

Richard was so scared of you leaving that he'd distanced himself completely from you, destroying all that you had. Richard had heard that hearts shatter when they're broken. This pain... it was less of a that, more like a slow incineration of his heart. As if it were made of paper and someone had taken a lighter to it.

He didn't know how to cope with the knowledge that the hand holding the lighter was his own.

Finally, finally, he'd gone to Jason asking for advice. Why he'd chosen Jason specifically, he didn't know. Maybe he'd just wanted to be told blunt and straight what to do. He'd gotten what he wanted.

"Go see them, you idiot!" Jason had shouted in exasperation.

That was what brought him here. Richard, in all his meek, sheepish and nervous glory, shuffling his feet as he stood at your doorstep after months of radio silence.

"Uh..." He cleared his throat, stalling for time. Richard took a tentative step closer, spreading his arms out for an embrace. When he was met with your quizzical gaze, he wilted.

"I don't know what I'm doing. I just know that I really miss you, and I'm really sorry. And I... I really need a hug. I know we never used to, but..." Richard sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Would you like a hug...?" He tried again, looking hopeful yet sure he'd get rejected. I mean, he deserved it, didn't he? Disappearing like that then coming back out of nowhere, just when you were finally fine - and asking for a hug?!