After a long, stressful day Erica and I held each other for a moment this evening before going to sleep. She turned her head slightly and her hair brushed against my face. I tried not to react to the simultaneous itching, tickling, and burning in my nose and cheeks, but she could feel my body tense as my spine shivered. After a moment I couldn’t help but pull away and rub my face vigorously to erase the sensory overload.

“Baby, I’m so sorry,” she said.

I responded, “It’s not you at all love, it just tells me how tired I am.” After a difficult day, there’s nothing better than holding–and being held by–the person you love. How I wish it was easier to actually do that. Such can be life with Asperger’s.