He'd seen it happen to other kids. They'd fall down and scrape they're knee, they'd be made fun of, they'd be hurting inside.
Then someone would come along and hug them as if they were loved, they are loved.
Even when nothings wrong he's seen them be hugged.
The older kids being dropped off to the Academy, younger kids going off to play with friends. It was done most of the time by an older female, a mother. it was usually accompanied by a kiss on the forehead.
To be hugged as if he was loved, that was his dream.