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It was just another night. Hazel looked out of the window and stared at the moon. She saw a shooting star glide through the horizon, and she immediately thought about the love of her life: Augustus Waters.
At that moment, a small ping came from her phone, signaling that she had a text message. Picking it up, her eyes lit up at the name: Gus💕
A smile grew on her lips as she read over his text:
I am sitting by the lake at the park, when I saw the shooting star - I thought about you.
While Hazel was typing out her reply, another text came from Gus.
I’m listening to a slow song. If you were here, I’d sing it to you.
And another came:
Meet me in the park?
Hazel didn’t need to think about it as she immediately typed out and sent her reply,
I’ll be there in 10 minutes.
Hazel immediately detached herself from the BICAP and hooked herself up to the oxygen tank.
She headed down to the living room where her mom and dad were watching tv.
“I’ll be going to the park for a bit.” Hazel said, so that her parents wouldn’t have to worry, “I’ll be Augustus Waters.”
Her parents nodded as her mother gave her a smile, “Okay sweetie, take care.”
Hazel made her way to the park, making short stops from time to time to catch her breath. But, even if Augustus Waters was on the other side of the skyline when it splits in two - nothing could stop her from seeing the stars with him.
He saw her back turned to her as he sat down on the grass, she plopped down next to him. Leaning against him as she tried to catch her breath.
“You know I could’ve picked you up.” Augustus said, gently running his hand up and down her back.
“I’m fine.” Hazel insisted, “Exercise fights cancer.”
He chuckled, “Yet nothing seems to fight Hazel Grace’s need to be by my side to watch the stars.”
“And tell me, why should I deny myself the simple pleasure of watching the stars with you?” Hazel asked, playfully rolling her eyes.
Augustus chuckled, “I have taught you well Hazel Grace Lancaster.”
At that peaceful moment, their horizons met and blended into one. All of the lights led to a night with each other.
The scars they would leave would someday bleed with the possibility of one (or both) of them being the grenade.
But that didn’t matter right now.
What mattered was that they were together.
Both of their hearts believed that all of the stars would guide them home - to each other.
Augustus looked at the girl in his arms with an adoring smile, “Okay?”
Hazel looked up to meet his blue eyes, “Okay.”
—
“I can’t believe we’re tasting the stars.” Hazel mused, taking another sip from her glass of champagne.
“The stars taste splendid. Don’t they?” Augustus agreed with a small smile.
She smiled, “Who knew that the sparkling gems in the sky would taste so fine.”
The boy who sat across her chuckled, “Metaphors. I have thought you well my Hazel Grace.”
The couple took a walk through the streets of Amsterdam, taking in their surroundings before opting to sit on a bench - so that Hazel’s lungs wouldn’t give her such a hard time.
They could hear some music coming from a nearby stereo, it was faint but they could still understand the lyrics.
“I can hear your heart on the radio beat.” Augustus said, interlocking his hands with Hazel’s.
She looked up, trying to suppress a smile, “You are made of so many metaphors.”
He smiled as they sat in silence while “Chasing Cars” were playing in the background.
As if their minds were in sync, they both thought back to the time they were lying next to each other by the Funky Bones Structure.
That time when they looked across to meet each other’s eyes and fell in love.
“The stars are beautiful, aren’t they?” Augustus mused, breathing in the scent of Hazel’s shampoo
“They are. But, millions and millions of tragedies are hidden amongst them.” Hazel replied, giving a small smile.
“And we are one of those tragedies.” He said.
Hazel chucked and turned her head to look at him, “Who are you and want have you done to Augustus Waters? The Gus I know loves metaphors but I never knew that he was so philosophical.”
Gus laughed, turning his head to meet her brown eyes, “You have that effect on me Hazel Grace.”
They didn’t say anything. Just staring deeply into each others’ eyes.
At that moment, two worlds melted into one.
Blue met brown.
Two hearts become one.
“I love you Hazel Grace.”
“I love you too, Augustus Waters.”
Gus took Hazel’s hand and they walked through lamp-lit streets of Amsterdam.
That’s when they knew - everything led back to each other. No matter what happened.
For Gus, everything led back to Hazel.
For Hazel, everything led back to Gus.
The boy looked up at the night sky, “Do you think that the stars we see over Amsterdam are the exact same ones we see over Indianapolis?”
Hazel shrugged, “I don’t know. All I know is that you’re the song my heart is beating to.”
The couple are aware of the scars that would bleed someday.
But, their hearts believe that all of these stars will guide them home.
Home is where the heart is.
So, for Hazel - home is where Augustus Waters is.