breakdowns. Yet, seeing the older man break down into tears was heartbreaking. "Neil, after you called, I came
here immediately," Bernard told him softly as he sat next to Neil. Neil was shaking and tears were streaming
down his face. "I don't know what to do..." Neil sobbed. Bernard took out a handkerchief and wiped off the
tears on his face. Bernard did not know what had happened to Neil. Neil suddenly tugged on Bernard's shirt and
leaned on his shoulder. "Tell me what's happened, Neil," Bernard coaxed him. His gentle way of speaking made
Neil stop sobbing.
"I was at a bar earlier tonight enjoying a drink and...and these men started to yell slurs and derogatory words
to me. I was so afraid that they were going to hit me. I suddenly couldn't take it anymore. All of the oppression,
the hatred, the bigotry and ignorance that was directed towards me. No, it wasn't just directed to me. It was
probably directed to all of the men and women in the world who are in a same-sex relationship. It just shows
how narrow-minded people can be. I don't even want to say those words the men yelled. If they treat us like
this, who knows how they'll treat women. Men who hate us also tend to be misogynistic, you know. When I
got back here, I just broke down into tears. I felt that the whole world regarded people like you and I as their
enemies," Neil stated as he slowly started to regain his calmness.
"Neil, I know exactly how you feel. There have been numerous times when people, especially men, have
shunned me. They've called me names. They've blamed me for all of the evils and atrocities in society. And I've
broken down just as much as you have. Perhaps even more, I suspect. Many times, you keep thinking that
those derogatory words were directed towards all of the people like us. They don't care who we are. They just
seem to regard us as an illness or a disease," Bernard gently, but strongly spoke.
"It's pathetic how the human nature can degenerate. I don't know who taught them such bigoted views. We're
all human and I don't understand how a himan being can hate another human being because of who they are,"
Neil wearily smiled, his eyes still red from crying.
"Neil, you've got me, though. I don't know if love can overcome everything. But I'm here with you. I know that
I'm more emotionally frail than you and I certainly do have more emotional breakdowns than you, but I love
you. I want to be with you no matter what. When you're happy, when you're sad; it doesn't matter," Bernard's
eyes started to well up with tears. Even though he was trying to coax Neil, it hurt him a lot to see him in such
a state. Neil also felt hurt whenever Bernard was hurt as well.
"Why are you crying, Bernard?" Neil asked. "I don't...know. It just hurts me to look at you like this. I know I'm
supposed to make you feel better, Neil," Bernard tried wiping up his own tears. Neil hugged Bernard and gave
him a kiss on the lips. Then, Neil wiped off the tears on Bernard's face. "It's going to be all right," Neil told him.
Both Neil and Bernard had faced verbal harassment before and it hurt both of them immensely. On the other
hand, perhaps they were more lucky than others to have each other. Countless others had to face the pain in
solitude. "Do you want me to stay with you tonight?" Bernard asked Neil. "If you want to, you can," he replied.
Bernard replied with a gentle smile, "I'll stay anyways."