Chapter 1
2010
17-year-old Shaun Murphy walked downstairs to the kitchen, where Dr. Glassman sat down with a plate of pancakes.
"Good morning, Shaun," Dr. Glassman said. "I made pancakes."
"I thought you didn't like hot food for breakfast on Mondays," Shaun said as he sat down.
"It's the first day of your senior year," Dr. Glassman said. "It calls for celebration."
"Okay," Shaun said. "Okay. Thank you, Dr. Glassman."
Later that day, Shaun sat at a lunch table in the school cafeteria studying his anatomy book. A young male freshman sat down across from him.
"Mind if I sit here?" the freshman asked.
"I am not currently sitting there," Shaun said. "Why would I mind?"
"I'm Carl," the freshman said.
"Nice to meet you, Carl," Shaun said. "I am Shaun Murphy. I'm a senior."
"Are you autistic?" Carl asked.
"Yes," Shaun replied. "I am on the autism spectrum."
Carl began to laugh.
"What's so funny?" Shaun asked.
"Nothing," Carl replied. "What are you reading?"
"I am reading a new anatomy book that my guardian gave me for my birthday," Shaun replied.
"Let me see that," Carl said, snatching the book from Shaun's hands.
Carl looked at the book.
"Hardback," Carl said.
Carl took his chocolate milk and spilled it all over Shaun's book.
"Here's your book, loser," Carl said as he threw the book at Shaun's face.
The Present
Shaun and Claire walked down a hallway at San Jose Saint Bonaventure Hospital. As they walked, Claire looked at the chart.
"So the patient has been coughing up blood," Claire said.
"It could be a number of things," Shaun said. "It could be a parasite, an embolism, COPD, or even lung cancer."
"Hopefully it's none of those things," Claire said.
Shaun and Claire entered the hospital room. Shaun stood there motionless once he realized who the patient was.
"Carl?" Claire asked.
"Yes," Carl replied.
"I'm Doctor Claire Browne and this is Doctor Shaun Murphy," Claire said.
Carl looked at Shaun.
"You look familiar," Carl said. "Do I know you from somewhere?"
"No," Shaun lied. "We just met right now."