'Speech was as inexpressive as silence.' - Tess of the D'ubervilles by Thomas Hardy.

When our words fail us, what do we do? Do we resort to quiet musing, reflection or silent tears? Or when all else fails, perhaps the last thing we'd turn to would be a simple, genuine hug.

That's what I think I do best, actually. Because sometimes silence is a person's loudest cry, and also because silence is a sound by itself.

Strangely enough, it is through one of the more noisier places that I learnt the art of silence. Of peace. And of serenity. But what I also picked up was that silence could suggest inner turmoil and fear for which words don't convey, can't convey, or a refusal to convey.

I guessed that's the reason I choose to hug instead. I vaguely remember describing a hug with much detail in one of my earlier posts and thing is, sometimes, that's all someone needs. And I also guess that that perhaps the most important thing is that, despite a person's silence, never take the silence to be one of condescension, submission or inability. Because that is rarely the situation.

In which case, I choose to hug.

Because hugging usually makes someone feel better, anyway.