I went to sit down on one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs as my mom walked over to talk to the lady in charge. She was obviously quickly ushered away, as she soon came over and sat next to me, grumbling about the lack of care.

"I don't think you're one to complain, Mom," I commented. "I mean, they kinda cared for your daughter well so far."

She smiled slightly, leaning forward to pick up a magazine to flick through. "I guess. I'm just worried, Hazel." She looked up at the nurses rushing around, fluttering between new cases coming in from ambulances. "I'd pick up something to read, if I were you. We could be some time."

I took her advice, and spread the small collection of magazines over the table so I could see them. I think it's compulsory for hospitals to have a pretty crappy range of magazines – cars, gossip, that kind of thing. Let's make people even more bored than they already are!

I eventually decided on a rather cheap looking 'House and Home' magazine.

"This is terrible," I later proclaimed to my mom, holding the magazine up in disgust.

"I bet mine is worse," she countered, showing me the cover of 'Diets for You'.

"Okay, you win."

A nurse soon came over to check me over and ask me a few questions. She was old and looked down at me from her height, her glasses sliding down her nose. I stifled laughter as she asked me to stand up.

"Name?"

"Hazel Grace Lancaster."

"Do you have any medical conditions, Hazel?"

"Thyroid cancer that spread to my lungs." I pointed to the oxygen tank beside me.

"Right, okay. Why are you here today?"

My mom cut in at this point. "She's been sick – physically vomiting – in the morning for the past few days. We were wondering whether it was anything to do with her cancer."

"I'm not trained in that particular field," she said flatly. "But I can try and get hold of your doctor."

Mom smiled slightly, apparently unfazed by the extremely unenthusiastic nurse, reciting the details about my doctor and my illness while I went back to reading about houses. It wasn't particularly interesting, but better than listening to that lady's voice. I was just getting into reading about floral wallpaper when my mom tapped me on the shoulder.

"You remember where the ward is, right?"

I nodded, stifling a sigh. This was the way she let me be independent – by walking her to the Children's cancer ward. How thrilling.

"The nurse said that the doctors will meet us there. You're lucky – they have a bed free."

This time I did sigh. "So they presume I'll need to be staying for a bit?"

"It's just precautionary, Hazel. I'm sure there'll be a simple explanation, like your drugs or something."

Like there had ever been a simple explanation to my illness before. I walked off, trusty oxygen cart in tow, and my mom had no choice but to end the conversation and follow.

It didn't take long to get to the cancer ward and, as promised, my cancer doctor was there along with a couple of others I hadn't met before. They were all smiles, which worried me slightly. Happiness is something I didn't ever associate with hospitals – they weren't a place you went out of choice, just if you were ill – which is a bad thing, right?

"Josie, Andrew, this is Hazel Grace Lancaster. Her case is quite an extraordinary one, isn't it Hazel?"

I nodded sheepishly, not quite sure why I was.

"Oh, I never told you! Hazel, these are student doctors currently spending time looking at cancer treatment and prevention. I recommended your case to them, and they have spent some time reviewing it. I was hoping you would let them in today while we try and discover what's wrong."

I just nodded again, knowing that what I said probably wouldn't make a difference. Besides, I knew my sarcastic comments wouldn't be appreciated here.