Like a million other young gay men, Bryan keeps his sexuality hidden because it’s safer that way. Yet other guys know he’s different -- they sense it, and make Bryan’s life pure hell. At home, things aren’t much better. He barely acknowledges his alcoholic father, and his mother has little time to spend with her family. So Bryan is alone, with no support, no shoulder to cry on.<br><br>Years of torture and torment, of name calling and humiliation, have taken their toll. Bryan does what he can to make new friends, but in trying to be something he’s not, he makes a huge mistake. Unable to cope with the repercussions, Bryan spends more and more time in a fantasy world he has created for himself. In this private world he is handsome, an object of desire. He is loved.<br><br>Is the hiding place as perfect as it seems? Or will Bryan go too deep and not be able to come out again?

The Hiding Place

His mother leaned further forward and looked as if she were about to get up.


“Leave me alone!” he snapped. “You come and ask me if there’s a problem at school on the worst possible day. I don’t have to go to school anymore! You could have asked me any other day of any other year and it might have helped. But it won’t fucking help now!”


He watched his mother’s eyes water over. The end of her nose was growing red.


“What are you crying about?” he yelled. “Don’t you feel sorry for me! I’m going to the city in two months and no one here will ever have to put up with me again. I’ll be out of your hair for good and you can all continue with your lives. Go to fucking hell for all I care!”


He stormed out of the room and when he heard his mother coming after him he ran to the front door. He yanked it open, slamming it shut behind him, and grabbed his bike, which he’d only just had repaired. He climbed on. By the time his mother reached the front door, he was already pedalling away.


Chapter 9