Chapter 1
Shaun Murphy sat at the bus stop outside San Jose Saint Bonaventure Hospital. He had been working all day and it was now nighttime. Claire walked out talking on her phone.
"Okay Lisa," Claire said. "I'm off work and you can come and get me. Oh, and is Jenny coming? Good. This is going to be fun. Tonight we hit the clubs. See you in a minute."
Claire hung up and sat down beside Shaun.
"You are going to hang out with your friends?" Shaun asked.
"Yes I am," Claire said. "We hang out every so often."
"Why?" Shaun asked.
"It's fun," Claire said. "Don't you ever hang out with your friends?"
"Growing up, I had no friends," Shaun said. "Nobody wanted to be my friend because of my autism."
"Oh," Claire said. "But you have friends now?"
"Lea," Shaun said.
"Anyone else?" Claire asked.
"I don't really want friends," Shaun said.
"Shaun," Claire said. "Everyone needs friends."
Shaun didn't respond.
"Here's some advice," Claire said. "Go hang out with people and make friends. Have some fun."
"Okay," Shaun said. "Okay."
Claire's friend pulled up in her car.
"Gotta go," Claire said getting up. "Have a nice night Shaun."