"Aarav," she asked gently. "When was the last time you were touched?" Aarav blinked. The question didn't compute. It wasn't a metric. "Touched? You mean... like a massage? I have a Theragun percussion massager. I use it daily for myofascial release." "No," Farah said. "I mean a human hand. A hug. A pat on the back. A handshake that lasted more than a second." Aarav froze. He searched his memory database. He remembered shaking hands with a client two weeks ago. It was brief, professional, sanitized. Before that? He couldn't remember. "Three months," he whispered. "Maybe four." "You aren't suffering from poor sleep hygiene, Aarav," Dr. Farah said. "You are suffering from Skin Hunger." She explained the science. Touch Starvation (or skin hunger) is a biological condition. Human beings are wired for co-regulation. When we are touched affectionately, our bodies release oxytocin and lower cortisol. Without it, the body enters a state of chronic stress. The immune system weakens. Sleep fragments. The heart aches—literally.