Chapter 5

Stella races up to the hospital roof, having witnessed Will’s collapse. When she reaches him, wheezing, she sees he has recovered from his coughing fit. She yells at Will for having “a death wish,” but Will tells her that since his lungs are “toast” he plans to enjoy whatever life he has left. Will tells her he has been to the roof of every hospital he has visited. The rooftop visits are the only things that help him withstand his treatments. Will baits Stella by pretending to step closer to the roof’s edge. An enraged Stella realizes she has forgotten to wear her face mask. She leaves the roof and removes the dollar bill so that the alarm goes off. Back in her room, Stella realizes that she does not want Will to die. She decides to help him follow his treatment plan.

Chapter 6

The next morning, Will is surprised by a visit from Stella, wrapped in protective gear. She asks him for his printed-out regimen. Stella is shocked to see that Will has doodled on the sheet and storms off in anger. Will follows her to the NICU, where he finds her watching a baby with CF fight to breathe. Will realizes that Stella watches the babies in awe at their instinct for survival and agrees to take his treatment more seriously. However, Will has one condition: that Stella will sit for a portrait for him. Stella says yes and tells Will he must get a med cart in his room to organize his medications. Afterward, Will meets Poe. When Will learns Poe and Stella are best friends, he feels a little jealous. However, Poe informs him that he is gay. Will and Poe strike up a friendship.