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

The remainder of his time in hospital was chiefly spent convincing the psychologist that he was perfectly fine.


“It was a one-off thing,” he explained. “A low moment I didn’t handle very well.”


“How could you have handled the situation differently?” asked Doctor Cross. I could have tried killing someone else, was really what he wanted to say. Instead he bit his tongue and smiled. “I guess I could’ve talked to someone about whatever it was that was bugging me. Maybe asked them to help me find some professional help.” He smiled. “I guess it’s easy to know what to do in hindsight.”


Doctor Cross nodded and a small smile appeared on his lips. Bryan had obviously hit the bulls-eye with that answer.


“Well, Bryan. I think we can release you tomorrow,” said Doctor Cross as he scribbled something on whatever it was he had on his clipboard.


Bryan felt a flash of anger. “Why not now?” he asked, frowning.


Chapter 19