“I don’t think you have a personality disorder in the slightest,” Rothman said. “You did what you had to do. I admire you. My foster care experience was nowhere near as bad. With Jewish parents, I got a decent placement right off. It wasn’t a picnic, and I had to do without much nurturing, but I was older to boot. I was eleven at the time. Also I got to spend vacations with an aunt who wasn’t the warmest of souls but at least was family. Even though my label then was only ADHD, my parents couldn’t deal with me, so they had given up. In their defense, I was a handful. They had four older children, and I just figured that my mom and dad had run out of love by the time it got to me.

“Listen, Pia, I’m not trying to make you feel grateful to me, or feel any different about me because of what I’ve told you. I’m just saying that I understand some of what you went through—more after what you’ve been willing to share tonight. It’s no wonder you have nightmares, and to tell you the truth, your being late doesn’t bother me as much as it bothers Marsha and Junichi, especially with what I know. Ironically, it bothers them because they believe it bothers me. The major point I want to leave you with is that research is the calling where I found myself despite my past and despite my Asperger’s. I think it could be for you as well, but you’re going to have to make a decision. It can’t be halfway. It’s got to be either research or clinical medicine. It can’t be both.”

“Reactive attachment disorder,” Pia said. “One of the social workers at Hudson Valley Academy told me I had reactive attachment disorder. It’s supposed to mean I can’t establish a relationship with anyone.”

“Well, I guess we make quite the pair then,” Rothman said, and smiled. Pia had never seen Rothman smile before and his whole face lit up for a second. “You think about your future. You don’t have to say anything now. But I have to know soon so I can prepare. Once our article for Nature comes out, things are going to accelerate.”

Rothman stood up. “Now I have to go back in the biosafety unit for another hour or so.” Typical of his Asperger’s syndrome behavior, he didn’t comment further, just left.