Late in the winter of her seventeenth year, her mother decided she was depressed. Apparently she was surprised, although I've no idea why she would be. I've yet to come across a cancer patient who hasn't been depressed at some point before, during or after their diagnosis. I've yet to come across a 16 year old who hasn't felt depressed at some point. Although, I would argue their depression stems from something a little less…pinpointable? You couldn't find it with an MRI scan, that's for sure. Depression, or at least the consequences of it, is something we've spoken about often both in support group and in private. Hazel would sit there, hand clenched together and head bowed, whilst Patrick would coach us on how to deal with the 'darkness' that creeps up on us all. She is a different person in support group. Hazel sits there like a statue. Sombre and cold. She does all she can to blend into the bare brick walls behind her, like a frightened chameleon surrounded by its enemies with nowhere to go. Occasionally she'll mock the group, but looking back now it was all just a defence mechanism so she didn't have to get too involved with us all. In the comfort of our bedrooms she's much more open. We talk at lengths about the days where getting out of bed seems unthinkable, where you're so numb and empty you can't even fathom the effort to cry or scream or even speak, where you'd much rather leave this place but you've no choice but to stay here for your mother or father or siblings and that makes you feel even worse. The thing is; I never saw Hazel Grace Lancaster like that. Sure, I'd see her disheartened or angry or a little pissed off, but never depressed. She always manages to shield me from that side of her. Even now that I'm no longer with her. Hazel Grace really is a wonderful woman. A wonderful human who has had such an impact on me I will not rest until I have shared our story with you. My name is Augustus and I have walked, well partly limped, around on this earth for seventeen years. But none of those seventeen years were as great as the time I spent with Hazel Grace. I shall promise you one thing; this is not the typical story of teenage angst and heartache.