Someone comes to visit. You don’t know them very well. Maybe you’ve met them before. Maybe you haven’t.
“Go give them a hug.”
You stay where you are.
“They’re family.”
“They came all this way to see you.”
“Don’t be rude.”
Everyone is looking at you now. You walk over. Someone puts their arms around you. Someone smiles. The adults seem pleased. The conversation starts again.
It happens at birthdays. Holidays. Family gatherings. Different people. The same expectation.
Nobody asks whether you want a hug. Nobody asks whether you want to be touched.