Set almost entirely in a hospital, Five Feet Apart chronicles the lives of two cystic fibrosis patients attempting to navigate the physical, emotional, and spiritual barriers that threaten them. Underneath each character’s development lies a common journey to survive very real and ubiquitous physical dangers. Stella, in particular, centers her whole life on her need for a lung transplant. She hopes to spare her parents further pain, since they are already grieving Abby’s death and the dissolution of their marriage. Consequently, Stella has made survival her life’s purpose. Her obsessive and meticulous focus forms the foundation of her early interactions with others in the novel, until the entrance of rebellious newcomer Will upends her plans.

In contrast to Stella, Will does not focus on survival or mere existence; instead, he focuses on active and adventurous living. Afflicted with B. cepacia and the subsequent loss of his spot on the lung transplant list, Will does not have much faith in his longevity. This paired with his resentment toward his mother’s unrelenting focus on his survival shapes Will’s motivation not to survive but to spend the time he does have living at the fullest. For Will, life is more than just surviving or existing—it’s about truly living and enjoying that existence.