An Imperial Affliction (Blog Post #3)

"An Imperial Affliction"

 Hazel's favorite book is An Imperial Affliction. She told me this the night she came over to my house to see the movie. I decided that I would read An Imperial Affliction even though there were no zombies or stormtroopers. (Which would make anything fascinating) We didn't speak for about a week until Hazel called me. Our conversation went like this: 

 “I have been wanting to call you on a nearly minutely basis, but I have been waiting until I could form a coherent

thought in re An Imperial Affliction.” 

“And?” I said.

“I think it’s, like. Reading it, I just kept feeling like, like.”

“Like?” I asked, teasing him.

“Like it was a gift?” he said askingly. “Like you’d given me something important.”

“Oh,” I said quietly.

“That’s cheesy,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

“No,” I said. “No. Don’t apologize.”

“But it doesn’t end.”

“Yeah,” I said.

“Torture. I totally get it, like, I get that she died or whatever.”

“Right, I assume so,” I said.

 If you ever read An Imperial Affliction you would be extremely discombobulated towards the end. It's like we were expecting there to be a different ending or a sequel at least. Due to my curious ways, I tried to contact the author, Peter Van Houten. I told him that the book meant a great amount to me and that got to him, I think. Half of his response was about the one word "meant." 

 Hazel and my questions weren't yet answered but I didn't say anything. 

 She wrote Peter Van Houten an email asking questions about the characters in An Imperial Affliction. He replied back saying that he would not say such things over an email but in person. This got me the idea of her going to Amsterdam to find out what Peter Van Houten has to say using her wish from The Genie Foundation that grants sick kids a wish. It turns out that Hazel Grace already used her Wish to go to Disney. I can't believe I love  like a girl with such cliché wishes.

 I decided that I would give Hazel my Wish so she can travel to Amsterdam around May (which is when the Genies said was most beautiful.) 

***

 Safely and soundly we both traveled to Amsterdam. It was a beautiful place and we went to eat and we went all over. We were happy and that was before we saw Peter Van Houten.

 We went to see him so Hazel could finally get her questions answered. I knew that if her questions were answered, she'd be the happiest girl in the world. I want to see Hazel happy. We expected for Peter Van Houten to be a wise man judging from his writing and emails but we were wrong. Yes, he may be right through his writing but he was definitely not wise in personhood. With no regrets I can say that Peter Van Houten is a crazy drunk.

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