It was a few days before I was released. The day before I was cleared they moved me out of ICU and into a regular hospital room. It was quite nice not having all the sounds that were in the ICU. No more crying mothers, no more long beeps followed by a rush of nurses and doctors shouting about how they needed to get this or prep that, just me and the TV. Also, and this was the best part, I was able to see Augustus. When I was moved into the room, I thought about how I was going to call and tell him the good news that I was finally out of ICU and no longer had to only hear him on the phone, but as I was wheeled into my new clean room I saw the flowers on the tableside. I reached over and read the card which read "Look up" only to be met by man I had remembered from before I went out.
"Hazel Grace," he said in a soft and smooth voice, "I've been waiting quite a while to see you again." He had lost a few pounds, likely from a lack of eating. Mom had said he was there every day and sometimes slept in the waiting room. He only recently had started going home for dinner and such because I was able to call him. He walked over to my bedside and sat on the edge to my left. It was at this point I realized that I hadn't said a word. "Gone mute or something?" He laughed and smiled that Augustus-brand smile that I had made me fall for him at Support Group in the -literal- Heart of Jesus.
It took me a second to process what he had said, but when I did I was quick on the reply. "Shut-up, you know how I get when I haven't seen you in a while." This, I know, wasn't very true. We had virtually spent every day (or at least every other day) with each other, but I was still lost in his eyes. He cracked that grin again and shook his head slightly. "You weren't even conscious for the most of it, I'm the one who should be speechless."
"You don't know what all I dreamt of while I was out. For all you know I could have had you on my mind the entire time!" I pushed his shoulder, only for him to lean in and kiss me. It was one of those quick pecks that you often give in a rush, but it meant everything in the world to me. He slid up next to me in the bed (I was now rid of about half of the things they stuck in me in the ICU) and we laid there watching TV.
An hour rushed by, just me and him. We didn't say much, just basked in each other's presence. After about hour and a half or so, Mom and Dad walked in and sat down. Mom started rambling about how nice it was that Augustus sent flowers and about how some guy had crashed into a fire hydrant and delayed them getting back from eating breakfast at home. Most of the times while she was talking I was too absorbed in hearing the beat of Augustus' heart. It was such a rhythmic sound that I started going to sleep. Unbeknownst to me I had fell asleep for about three hours. I woke up by the sound of Augustus laughter, which I thought I could do every day of my life, and decided to sit up. "There's my little sleepy head. Dream well Hazel Grace?" I looked around the room and noticed Mom and Dad were gone.
"Where did they go?" I inquired. I sat up in my bed stretching my arms and yawning. It wasn't till now I realized how different I felt. While my lungs were operating at fifty percent capacity, I was remarkably alive. I was breathing better than I was before, and I felt more energetic. "They left about thirty minutes ago. I asked the nurse if it was fine if I stayed overnight with you so that your parents could go home and sleep in their own bed for once this week." He laughed and then got up to rearrange his prosthetic leaning on the edge of the bed.
"While I am completely and utterly excited that I get to spend the night with the amazing Augustus Walters, I have come to the realization I am completely famished." He reached out to the side table as he sat down in the chair next to the bed. "They have quite a few choices, granted you eat animals." He grinned and I laughed, then he grabbed the menu they placed in all the rooms so that you could decide what you wanted to eat and handed it to me. I ended up picked out several vegetables while he got some roast.
After we ate the nurse came and took our trays. Shortly thereafter she came back and gave me the last of my medication, checked my vitals and said next time she came back she would have papers for me to be released. I couldn't believe how close I was to being able to live at home cancer free. Augustus laid down beside me, and I again fell asleep to the beat of his chest. It was better than any song I had ever heard.
