The Fault in our Stars Alternative

Waiting For Good News

Augustus POV

I see them take Hazel away and my heart sinks. I feel it pounding in my stomach, in my throat, in my ears. I feel every little thing right now and I just want time to pass by fast. I want my girlfriend to be okay.

"Let's go back to the waiting room, sweetie.", Hazel's mom tells me.

I just look at her and nod. I don't have the power to talk right now. I just want to run. Run away from all the problems in the world and be happy. But I can't. This damn prosthetic leg doesn't even let me run 5 mph.

We start walking to the waiting room and I notice that Hazel's dad just got there. I can already make out the tears on his cheeks as we walk closer and closer.

"How is she?! Is everything going to be alright?", He frantically asks.

"We're taking a chance with the Phalanxifor. We don't know if a higher dose can make her better but I'll let them do anything for our daughter to survive.", She tells him, tears running down her face.

They both hug and my dad puts his hand on my shoulder and squeezes it.

"It's all going to be alright bud. Just wait and see.",he tells me.

I smile at the fact that he's trying to make me feel better but I know that she won't make it. She warned me when we first met, she told me that she was a grenade ready to go off but I took my chance anyway. I walk out the waiting room and stare around the hospital corridors. So many depressed and sick people, doctors running back and forth, people looking for answers, and it feels like an eternity for all of us.

"I'm going outside, I can't take all of this. Too many depressed people and shit."

"Augustus! What did I tell you about cursing!"my mom yells.

"I'm sorry, I just can't take this."

I walk out as my mother starts speaking again but I ignore her. My head is hurting and all I want is to escape from everything. I end up outside the emergency entrance and sit on a old, blue metal bench.

I put my hand in my brown leather jacket and search for my phone.

I start looking at my messages and see the last one Hazel texted me.

"Okay."

I smile and grip the phone in my hand hard. I close the conversation and go into the contacts and call Hazel. It rings, for what seems an eternity.

"Hi this is Hazel Grace, sorry I couldn't answer. I'm probably hooked up to my Bipap machine and couldn't reach the phone, or I'm probably re-watching Americas Next Top Model. Anyways, please leave you're message." *BEEP*

"Hey Hazel. It's nice hearing your voice on your voice mail. I miss you and I know you're going through hard times right now but so am I. I need you to survive, just this once, do this favor for me. Please. I love you Hazel Grace."

I lock my phone and twirl it between my hands. I sit there with my elbows on my knees and my head down. I start feeling for my cigarette pack and I get 1 cigar and put it in my mouth.

"Um, excuse me young man. there's no smoking allowed in this area, due to the emergency entrance.",a nurse tells me.

"Oh no I don't smoke.", I reply

She looks puzzled and I continue to speak.

"It's a metaphor you see. I put the object that kills lives between my teeth but I don't light it. I don't give it the power to kill. A metaphor."

"Oh, well, please put that "metaphor" away or go to the parking lot and sit there.", She tells me

I frown at her and put it away. I don't really feel like fighting so I smile and just say,"Sorry about that ma'am. It won't happen again."

She smiles,"Thank you." And walks back in to the front desk.

I pull my phone out and go to my contacts again. I press on Issac's name and call him.

"Hello?"

"Hey Isaac it's me Augustus."

"Oh hey! How are you bud?"

"Actually not good."

"Why what's wrong?!", He yells frantically.

"It's Hazel. Her lungs filled up with water and she's currently in the emergency room. I just need someone to talk to."

I can hear him call his mom, he tells her to take him to the hospital a.s.a.p.

"Hey, I'll be there soon. Where you at right now?"

"I'll be outside the emergency room. Thanks bro."

"Augustus!" A woman yells.

For a second I thought that was Hazel but as I turn around I see my mother.

"The Philanxifor worked! She woke up but they're still going under surgery to take out the water of her lungs."

I feel a sudden rush of joy. I can't control my face, I feel a smile and I shout. I try to run towards my mom and I lift her up with joy.

"Thank god!", I say.

I'm walking back to the waiting room as I call Isaac back.

"Hey Isaac! The Philanxifor worked! I'll be in the waiting room in room A208!"

"Okay. See you there, well, meet you there 'cuz I can't see. "

I laugh at his remark and say "bye" and hang up. I'm excited that my love of my life will make it. You can tell that the energy in the room changed. Everyone has hope, like winning the lottery. All of us are smiling and crying, not because we're sad but because we're happy. Happy to know a life has been saved, a life that we know.

A doctor walks in.

"Hello Mr. and Ms. Grace/Lancaster."

He scans us, like he's trying to figure out whose Hazel's parents are. I don't hesitate to answer.

"Hi I'm Augustus, her boyfriend, and these are my parents and these are her parents.", I say as I point to them.

He smiles,"Well good news. Your daughter was able to handle the extra dose of Philanxifor. She did get out of hand screaming for you guys but we had to put her asleep so we can proceed with the surgery. We connected a tube that goes straight to her lungs and is currently sucking out the water from her lungs, like a vacuum."

"When can we see her?" I ask

"You guys can actually go right now.", The doctor replies.

I smile and I can't wait to go see Hazel, my beautiful Hazel Grace but before I go I start walking to the gift shop and buy her some orange tulips.