"Hey, sis, I'm feeling lonely", said Mark.
"Don't worry, I'm going to keep you company!", said Irina, Mark's sister.
Mark went under the blankets and his sister sat on a chair.
"Do you want me to caress your head?", asked Irina, smiling.
"Yes, thank you!"
Irina touched Mark's head. He was feeling awesome, and that was just the beginning. Irina wasn't planning to stop it anytime soon. Everytime her fingers move even just an inch, it was heaven for Mark. The slow and gentle caresses made him smile a lot.
"Let's talk", said Mark, smiling.
"Of course!", said Irina, moving her index finger back and forward on Mark's head.
"Awww... that feels wonderful!", said Mark.
"Of course it does!", said Irina, smiling intensely.
"Anyway, I sometimes feel lonely, like when I'm in my bedroom alone and do nothing except playing videogames and watching videos on the Internet".
"I...", said Irina, touching Mark's head with her fingernail and moving it slowly, making him feel the best feeling ever, "...understand. So why didn't you tell me?"
The head scratching felt so pleasurable to Mark that he had to pause for a few seconds and breathe.
"Because I thought... that... awww it feels so good!!! Well, I thought that I would bother you"
"Well, bro, humans need touch, that's why it feels so good, anyway you aren't bothering me", said Irina, smiling.
"Are you sure?"
"Sure as the sky is blue!"
"..."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I... do you think that you touching my head is okay? I feel like it's wrong"
"Why is it even wrong? There's absolutely nothing wrong with that! Didn't mom do that to you, too?"
"Well, she did, but it's different"
"How is it different?"
"I'm feeling a bit guilty"
"For what?"
"For cuddling"
Irina smiles.
"Don't be so paranoid, there's absolutely nothing wrong. Is hugging me wrong from your point of view?"
"Hugging? Not at all. But you touching my head? I feel that's wrong"
"What's wrong with that? Listen, every human needs to be touched, if you don't get touched by your friends, then me, mom or dad should do it, no complaining", said Irina, smiling.
"Maybe you are right..."
"I am indeed right. Please enjoy the cuddling *smiles*"
"I need some time to get into this new mentality"
"New? Haha. You have been like this only in the past two months. You were always glad to be cuddled by me and our parents"
"You are right. I'm sorry for having complained"
"You don't have to worry. Blame our touchless society"
"So, this cuddling is the right thing to do"
"Yep! Need a tight hug?"
"Yes"
Mark got up from his lying position and sat down on his bed, and then Irina hugged him tight for one minute.
"Do you feel any better now?", asked Irina, who proceeded to caress his head again.
"I feel really good physically, but my mood is not one of the greatest. I still feel like touching is wrong"
"If mom does the same thing, is that wrong?"
"No"
"And why is it wrong if I do?"
"I... I don't know, actually"
"It's not wrong, trust me *smiles*"
"Okay"
"Do you want to talk about anything else?"
"Well, back to the feeling of loneliness, yes, I feel lonely most of the time. Like, I go to school, feel lonely, come home, feel lonely again. What should I do?"
"Stay with me, I will keep you company for hours *smiles*"
"Thank you so much, sister. I'm also very tired for studying. I don't feel like studying anything for school"
"I will help you doing that"
"Thanks, but, I feel really bad and tired when I study"
"You have to study little by little and don't procrastinate"
"It's harder to do than to say"
"I know it's hard, I feel you"
"I'm getting sleepy"
"Sleep well, dear"
"No, no, please, keep doing that"
"Aww, you like being touched... nothing wrong with that! I'll keep doing it for a while, then"
"Thank you"
The feeling was very relaxing to Mark, and he drifted to sleep very quickly.
"Mission accomplished", thought Irina, happily.
The morning after, Mark woke up and gave his sister a big hug. He was feeling full of joy and happiness, he didn't feel lonely anymore but he still felt anxious about school. He finally gave up at the thought that life cannot be perfect, and one will always feel tired and stressed because of school and work. Anyway, he decided to appreciate the small things in life and not to over-worry like he always does.