My friend M had a similar thing happen - the other boy was sent to live with relatives, while M himself went deep into the closet only to emerge after many years.

Then he tried to trace the other boy but he was not to be found. Reckoned if he had come out, he might have got tied up in the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

If they had stayed together, of course, there would have been much less chance of that (I speak from experience - monogamy and God's grace saved my unworthy neck - I have had multiple decades of all "unsafe" sex, but entirely with one person who was the same way).

God's plan of gay/bl boys loving and protecting each other deserves a little more respect.