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

John smiled and nodded his head at them.


Bryan didn’t know what they were talking about, but he could guess. Knowing John, he’d probably had them both at the same time. They were probably sisters. God knew they looked the same.


The quartet fought their way to the bar and John bought them all a round of beers including, Tammy, Jason’s girl-for-the-night.


“I’ll leave you guys here,” said John, handing out the beer. “Those girls have given me a bone a wild dog couldn’t chew through.”


Bryan nearly snorted beer through his nose.


“He sure has a way with words, doesn’t he?” said Jason.


“Yeah, really nice,” droned Tammy, obviously unimpressed.


“Anyway, bloke. You be alright on your own? Tammy and I’ve got stuff to do.”


Bryan raised his glass. “Go for it.” He had some stuff he wanted to do, too. He’d been working out how it would be possible, but it seemed the problem had sorted itself out.


Chapter 12