Chapter 11

Sunday morning, Shaun sat on Lea's couch. Lea was asleep in Shaun's arms. Shaun sat there quietly until Lea woke up.

"Good morning Shaun," Lea yawned as she woke up.

"We fell asleep," Shaun said.

"We keep doing that," Lea said.

Shaun's phone began to vibrate. Shaun looked at his phone to see Dr. Glassman was calling.

"It's Dr. Glassman," Shaun said before answering. "Hi Dr. Glassman."

"Hey Shaun," Dr. Glassman said. "Would you like to go get some pancakes?"

"Yes please," Shaun said. "Can Lea come?"

"Actually, I would prefer if you came alone," Dr. Glassman said. "There's something we need to talk about. Meet me in an hour."

"I'll be there," Shaun said.

Shaun hung up his phone and looked at Lea.

"Dr. Glassman wants to meet with me," Shaun said. "I have to go now."

"Okay," Lea said. "I had fun last night."

"Me too," Shaun said. "Thank you for taking me to the street fair."

"You're welcome," Lea said.

Shaun kissed Lea on the cheek and got up. As he walked out, Lea smiled.

"See you later Shaun Murphy," Lea said.

An hour later, Shaun and Dr. Glassman sat at a table at the restaurant.

"What's so important?" Shaun asked. "Why couldn't I bring Lea?"

"So tell me Shaun," Dr. Glassman said. "What did you do at the street fair?"

"Lea and I walked around," Shaun replied. "I tried a caramel apple. It was good. Lea and I put caramel on each other's faces."

"What else did you do?" Dr. Glassman asked.

"We rode the Ferris wheel," Shaun replied. "Then we walked around some more. After the fair, we watched Bates Motel."

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said getting out his phone. "I need to show you something."

"Is it a funny internet video?" Shaun asked.

"It's an internet video," Dr. Glassman said. "But it's not funny."

Shaun took the phone and watched the video of him and Lea stuck on the Ferris wheel. The video was titled Crazy Guy Freaks Out on Stalled Wheel.

"How did…" Shaun started to ask.

"Someone was filming with the street fair with their phone and happened to be by the Ferris wheel when it stalled," Dr. Glassman replied.

"Hey," Shaun read aloud. "This is the same guy who went mental on those teenagers at the mall. What a spaz. I feel sorry for that girl he's with."

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said taking back his phone. "Please stop reading comments. Tell me what happened."

"Lea commented that we were so high," Shaun replied. "I then had memories of Steve falling from the train and dying."

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said. "You've had a tough couple of weeks."

"I'm fine," Shaun said.

"You had a nervous breakdown on a Ferris wheel Shaun," Dr. Glassman said. "You confronted teenagers. A few weeks ago, you were in a grocery store with a gunman. I don't think you're fine."

"I do not like where this is going," Shaun said.

"You're going to interview potential life coaches Shaun," Dr. Glassman said. "It's not a suggestion."

"I don't need a life coach," Shaun said. "I need to handle things myself and work hard at my job so I can save lives."

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said.

"And I need to make lots of money in order to pay my bills, get food, and get a surround sound system for my television," Shaun said.

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said. "Please just consider it. Can you please at least interview potential life coaches? Can you do that for me?"

"You're really not going to let this go are you?" Shaun asked. "Okay. Okay. I'll interview potential life coaches."

Shaun began holding his hands together.

"It feels like you are controlling me," Shaun said.

"That's the last thing I want to do," Dr. Glassman said.

"I don't understand why you're so adamant," Shaun said.

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said. "I just want what's best for you. You barely talk about Steve."

"I don't want to talk about Steve," Shaun said. "It makes me sad."

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said.

"Steve is dead," Shaun said. "There's nothing I can do about it. Let's move on. My brother is dead."

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said softly.

"We were there because of me," Shaun said with tears in his eyes. "If I had been able to make friends on my own, we wouldn't have even been there, Steve wouldn't have fallen, and he'd still be alive. It's my fault."

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said softly. "It's not your fault."

"It feels that way," Shaun said.

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said softly. "It's okay."

"I'm going to get the rainbow trout," Shaun said. "Lea taught me to branch out."

"Shaun," Dr. Glassman said.

"I don't want to talk about Steve!" Shaun shouted. "Will you shut up about it?!"

"Okay," Dr. Glassman said. "Calm down."

"Okay," Shaun said patting himself on the head. "Okay."