The Fault In Our Stars: After Augustus

Chapter Twenty

"Happy Birthday my love."

I looked around, saw no one. All my eyes spotted were white fog in the air, and glistening puffs that looked like shining clouds.

Then I saw a figure coming closer to me. Male, lanky, beautiful; Augustus.

"G-Gus?" I spoke, my voice shaky.

"Yes, Hazel Grace, it's me." I heard his voice say, that voice I fell in love with.

"Gus!" I exclaimed, and ran to him. He carried me slightly in his muscular arms. "You don't know how much I've missed you."

"I know. And I'm pretty sure I've missed you more," Augustus said, followed by a wink.

I chuckled, then shed a tear.

"Tears of happiness, I suppose," he pointed out.

"I'm way past happy," I told him, and then leaned in for a kiss."

~~~~~~~~~~

I opened my eyes slowly, turned to my bedside table to reach for my phone, then realized it wasn't there.

I got out of bed, after switching from my BiPAP to Phillip of course, and head to the bathroom to wash up and brush my teeth.

Afterwards, I decided to change out of my blue and white striped PJs and into something nice. It was my birthday, after all.

Just as I walked towards my closet to pick out an outfit, I spotted a polka dotted pink bag that read 'Happy Birthday'. There was a note attached:

Dear Hazel,

Happy Birthday Sweet Pea. Have a wonderful day - you so deserve it. And as much as it saddens us to say, we know this birthday might be your last; so we want to help you make it the best. Just these last few days of your life the best. You know we'll always be here for you, even when you may not exactly be here for us. We couldn't have asked for any better child; and we wouldn't want to. We love you so very much.

Sincerely,
Mom and Dad

As I finished reading their note, I wiped away a tear on each of my cheeks. Then I opened the bag.

It was a big frame that had my favourite picture of my parents and I. It was my favourite because of the story behind it. We all look so happy, laughing our heads off (it was a stolen shot), yet the photograph was taken the day we found out I was diagnosed with cancer. I don't even remember what made us laugh so hard, I just loved this because it showed that; even on the darkest days-we can have a bright time.

~~~~~~~~~~

I picked out a plain baby blue dress that was form-fitting to my waist, then flared out, and stopped at my knees. Then I clipped back my hair, and applied some mascara and lip gloss - one of the rare occasions I did so. All ready, I made my way downstairs.

It was dark, all the lights were off, and as I made my last step off the stairs; "SUPRISE!" I heard a few voices say in unison, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"