Chapter 1

Shaun Murphy sat on his couch talking to his best friend, Maxwell Clark, on the phone.

"What are you doing right now, Max?" Shaun asked.

"I am talking to you on the phone," Clark replied.

"Okay," Shaun said. "I meant what are you doing besides that."

"I am on the couch with my legs propped up," Clark replied. "You know, the doctors informed me that my casts can come off in a few weeks. And I plan on returning to work and working desk duty by next week."

"That's good," Shaun said. "I wish I could see you."

"I do too," Clark said. "Come and visit me."

"I don't have time," Shaun said. "Being a doctor is time consuming."

"I miss you," Clark said.

"I miss you too," Shaun said.

"I have to go," Clark said. "I'm tired."

"Bye, Max," Shaun said.

"Bye, Shaun," Clark said.

Shaun hung up his phone and lied down on the couch. Lea then walked out of her bedroom and stood in front of him.

"I overheard," Lea said.

"You were eavesdropping," Shaun said.

"Yes I was," Lea said. "You need to visit Max."

"I have to work," Shaun said.

"Call your boss and say you're sick," Lea said.

"You mean lie?" Shaun asked.

"Do you want to see Max or not?" Lea asked.

"I'll tell Dr. Melendez that I have Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease," Shaun said.

"You have the flu," Lea said. "That ought to give you a week to spend with your friend."

"Okay," Shaun said.

Shaun wrote an email and sent it to Dr. Melendez. After he sent it, Lea took his phone.

"There, and there," Lea said, handing Shaun his phone back. "All set. You're plane to Long Beach takes off tomorrow morning at 9:00."

"I better go pack," Shaun said.

The next day, Lea dropped Shaun off at the airport. As Shaun sat on the plane, he looked over at the guy next to him.

"I'm Dr. Shaun Murphy," Shaun said.

"Hi," the guy said.

"I'm going to Long Beach to see my best friend," Shaun said. "He's a police sergeant."

"Cool," the guy said. "I'm going for a job interview. I told my boss that I was sick with Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease."

"I wanted to do that," Shaun said. "But my roommate, Lea, told me to tell my boss I had the flu."

"Do you have autism?" the guy asked.

"Yes," Shaun replied.

"My daughter has autism," the man said. "She's 11-years-old and just learning how to speak. If I get this job, it would mean more money, and it would help pay for my daughter's speech therapy."

"You're a wonderful man," Shaun said. "I wish my father had cared about me."

Shaun and the guy visited for the entire hour-long flight. As they exited the plane, the guy patted Shaun on the back.

"It was nice to meet you, Shaun," the guy said.

"Thank you," Shaun said. "I hope you get the job."

Shaun took a Lyft to Clark's house. He then knocked on the door.

"It's open!" Clark hollered from inside the house.

Shaun opened the door and walked into the house. He then closed the door and walked into the living room to see Clark sitting on the couch, watching television, with his casted legs propped up on the coffee table.

"Hello, Max," Shaun said.

Clark turned his head to see Shaun.

"Shaun!" Clark cheered. "You came!"

"I told Dr. Melendez I had the flu," Shaun said.

"I can't exactly hug you," Clark said. "Come here and sit next to me."

Shaun walked over and sat beside Clark. Clark then leaned his head against Shaun's shoulder.

"I'm so happy you're here," Clark said.

"Me too," Shaun said.