The author talks about Hazel rereading her favorite book titled An Imperial Affliction. The book gives a story about a girl named Anna who was surviving with blood cancer. Despite talking about cancer, the book narrates about living with the nightmare and the unconsciousness of death (Green 20). Hazel then remembers that she had promised to call Gus after reading his favorite book. But she decides to text him instead, chatting for a while before refusing to continue the conversation until Gus finishes reading An Imperial Affliction. Together with her mother, Hazel goes to the movies after which she receives four new texts from Gus, who has questions regarding the ending of the book. Therefore, she decides to call his phone with the aim of talking about the book, but hears Isaac sobbing in the background. Gus invites Hazel over so that the three youngsters may talk (Green 21). 

On arrival, the three sit and talk in Gus’s basement, as Isaac seems deeply hurt after his girlfriend leaves him on claims that she cannot deal with his unavoidable blindness. While the boys play video games, Isaac’s rage grew out of control and he began smashing everything around him. Trying to help, Gus gives Isaac his basketball trophies to smash and tells Hazel how he had been trying to find a way of explaining to his dad how he disliked basketball. Together, Gus and Hazel watch as Isaac continues to give in to rage and despair.