How a Simple Hug Between a Father and
Working at the same hospital as my father felt special. He had been a trusted nurse there for over twenty years,
and I joined as a social worker after graduate school. When our shifts overlapped, we would share a quick hug after long, emotional days. Those moments meant a lot to us.
One evening, after a difficult shift, we hugged near the staff exit. A new nurse saw it and misunderstood.
By the next day, rumors spread. Coworkers grew distant, and soon we were called to HR over concerns about an “inappropriate relationship.”
The meeting felt surreal. After hearing the concern, my father calmly explained, “She’s my daughter.”
The room fell silent. The misunderstanding ended immediately, followed by sincere apologies.
Although resolved, the experience left a mark. It showed how quickly assumptions can grow without communication. In a hospital, where trust matters most, that lesson was important.
We still hug after long shifts—because compassion and connection should never be mistaken for something inappropriate.
