Quote 28
We walked in silence, Augustus a half step in front of me. I was too scared to ask if I had reason to be scared. (13.20)
Just because she's used to the whole cancer drill doesn't mean that Hazel doesn't have moments of weakness. We're pretty sure she knows what's coming in this scene.
Quote 29
Much of my life had been devoted to trying not to cry in front of the people who loved me, so I knew what Augustus was doing. You clench your teeth. You look up. You tell yourself that if they see you cry, it will hurt them (13.29)
Is this courage? Why do we always try to protect the people we love when we'd never want them to hold it in for our sake?
Quote 30
According to the conventions of the genre, Augustus Waters kept his sense of humor til the end, did not for a moment waver in his courage, and his spirit soared like an indomitable eagle until the world itself could not contain his joyous soul. (18.27)
If this were a made-for-TV family drama, maybe Augustus would never feel pain or depression or hopelessness in the face of cancer. But he does. And that doesn't make him any less of a fighter.