However, Hazel realizes that she is probably not going to be around for long. Her diagnosis is terminal and her lungs can’t continue to support her. She’s afraid to become close to Augustus for the fear that she would leave him behind and he would be attached to her.
However, they continue their relationship as Augustus is quite the pursuer and Hazel has few if any other friends that understand her situation. Hazel is obsessed with this book called An Imperial Infliction, which she also gets Gus to love. However, the book ends without an ending because the character in the book apparently dies before it can be finished. Hazel’s one wish is to know how the book ends. Hazel & Gus contact the author of the book, but he refuses to give any details about it unless they are in person.
Gus offers to Hazel for them to use his unused Make a Wish foundation Wish on going to Amsterdam to visit the author, Van Houten, to find out how the book ends. They end up going on the trip, despite Hazel’s poor condition at this point. However, their encounter with Van Houten is disappointing as he is a delusional drunk who didn’t even realize they were coming. None of their questions really get answered, but they still get a wonderful trip in Amsterdam. However, Hazel realizes that Gus does not seem well, and all the sudden she learns that he has cancer again – very badly.
The rest of the book is about their relationship and Gus being consumed by cancer. Gus becomes quite a different person than he was when he first