‘Hug, a wordless little girl ‘

‘a hug, wordless little girl ‘         trgates,4/29/2018
week after week,
wordless she talked,
her Mommy near worn out,
alone in this walk,
dad walked away,
she’d smile as her little girl walked with me around the store. 
we talked, but mostly without words. 
(I know, hard to believe for me,)
“Autism,” often still tagged as mental illness, and often rejected by insurers in those days — 
since then, Mother, and her quiet little daughter had first walked in,
two years in,
the first support walk took place. 
every week I anticipated this speechless angel. 
she would put her hand up,
waiting for mine,
never thought this was so unique, 
I was being taught in my silence, 
and our stroll continued until Mom was done shopping. 
then a surprise,
right before leaving,
she reached up again, I thought for my hand. 
I received a hug, 
and a, 
“I love you.” 
tears ran down Mommy’s cheeks,
with a whisper,
“She’s never hugged,
or told someone that she loved them.”
a door opened, now 
holding hands before coming into the store,
only to switch to mine. 
“I love you,”
has forever changed,
our wordless visits,
only bested by these three, with our weekly goodbye hug. 

***a few businesses since, every so often we run into each other. the unsought gifts here leave a tattooed piece upon you soul. Grateful.