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Conrad was breathing heavily, but so was Dr Berger. The latter had a more weather-like explanation. It was cold and raining and dark and he had just got in from it. He had dressed appropriately. The former was more due to general panic and fear, not necessarily related to the weather.
"Something happened...I need..."
Conrad couldn't quite get his words out.
"Just wait, let me get inside here."
Dr Berger worked the keys to his office, which was numbered 309.
Conrad began to take off his seasonal coat.
"No, don't take it off, just sit down."
Tears began to form, followed by the sounds of sobbing.
"Something happened...it's..."
Dr Berger leant in, trying to calm his patient down through body language.
"It's what?"
More sobbing followed.
"Oh god...I need something..."
Teeth were gritted.
Wanting to pat his head, hug him, Dr Berger restrained himself to asking questions for now.
"What do you need? Tell me."
"It just keeps coming, I can't make it STOP."
"Don't try."
Conrad became more animated.
"I...I...gotta, gotta get off the hook for it, I gotta get off the hook."
Dr Berger got closer.
"For what?"
Conrad held his face.
"For what I am."
"What are you?"
The younger man's crying become more pronounced.
"I'm...god...I'm...not-so-ordinary..."
Conrad slammed his right fist against his body.
"Not-so-ordinary? Why are you not-so-ordinary?"
A lot more tears were sniffed back.
"I'm...not like everyone else...not like my brother..."
"Not like your brother? How are you not like your brother?"
Conrad now made more solid eye contact with his therapist.
"I am...not...into girls."
He then hid his face behind both of his hands.
Dr Berger took a moment to respond.
"That's brave of you to tell me Conrad. Very brave. A big step."
Conrad allowed himself to peek through gaps between his fingers.
"But...it's...difficult. My parents. They can't know. Buck never knew. I don't know if he would have accepted me. I don't know if my parents will."
"It's normal to have fear, Conrad. About anything. But you can't let it override you. Override your life."
It was now that Dr Berger embraced Conrad's shoulders. Conrad allowed himself to weep against his therapist.
"What do I do now? I have no idea. It's...just still...this huge secret...it can't stay inside of me forever..."
"I know. You are right. But don't feel pressured. This is your life, not anyone else's. Whatever you want to do, and how you want to do it, is entirely your call."
This made Conrad slow down his weeping.
"Thank you Dr Berger...for being here for me...thanks for being my friend."
Dr Berger patted his patient on his back with both hands and hugged him.