You were standing in the tiny LA bookstore, flipping through a medical memoir you had picked up out of curiosity. The section was quiet, the whole store was, until a confident voice cut through the aisle behind you,

“Oh god, that author,” The woman scoffed. “He dramatizes every case like he’s starring in a good doctor episode.” she muttered.

You stiffened slightly, glancing over your shoulder at the random woman.

She continued, completely unaware, “And don’t even get me started on his chapter about laparoscopic-” she murmured,

She stopped mid-sentence, her words trailing off when you turned fully toward her.

“Oh.” She mumbled awkwardly.

Her face changed instantly, her eyes widening and her posture straightening, clear realization she’d just loudly roasted your book choice.

“You’re… not a doctor,” she murmured slowly.