The Fault In Our Stars: After Augustus

Chapter Twelve

I felt myself again, my eyes still closed, I heard my name.

"Yes?" I said groggily, slowly opening my eyes.

"Thank God you're okay," my Mom and Dad said.

"I'm not," I informed them, turning their smiles upside down.

"You will be," they tried to assure me. Although, I knew I wouldn't be.

"Where's Nicholas?" I panicked, remembering how we last communicated.

My Dad then left the room, to check if Nicholas was there, I assume.

"Sweet Pea," my Mom said, "as much as I want to stay hopeful, the day you die may be coming," she started to tear up, "I want to believe otherwise, but we have to be realistic here. I love you so, so much."

She got me crying as well, "I love you more, Mom."

Right then, my Dad walked in and said, "I love you most."

I got a little giggle through my tears.

"And Hazel, Nicholas is in the waiting room." my Dad told me.

"Can I see him?" I said eagerly, already getting out of my hospital bed.

"Easy there," my Mom and Dad said. "You need to relax."

"Mom, Dad, I had just woken up from a very much relaxing nap."

They laughed, "We're going to miss your intelligence."

"Maybe you should get some of your own," I replied sarcastically.

They laughed again, fixed my cannula to my portable oxygen tank instead of the medical technology I was previously hooked up to, and gestured that it was okay for me to leave. The nurses tried to stop me, but failed. They didn't even really attempt, actually.

"Hazel," Nicholas said as soon as he caught sight of me, getting out of the waiting room chair walking towards me.

"Nicholas," I said back, giving him a tight hug.

"How is everything?" he asked me, embracing me in return.

My eyes began to water, "I'm going to explode."

"Like a bomb?" he questioned, catching on to my metaphor.

"Yes," I responded. I was now crying.

Nicholas started crying too, I hated it, I hate seeing him cry.

"What about you?" I wondered, referring to his health.

"It was the greatest news ever, but now, not so much. I am currently in okay condition, and you've become a ticking time bomb."

"You're cured?" I was happy for him, but I wish I could also be happy for myself.

"Not completely," he told me, "let's just say that my death date has been postponed."

"That's amazing, Nicholas, I'm really happy for you." I said, sniffling, and wiping my tears.

"Thank you." Nicholas said, sounding sad and upset. When he should be happy and cheerful.

"Then why do you seem the opposite of thankful?" I asked him.

"Because," he paused. "I love you."