After Stella goes days without speaking to Poe and Will, it is clear how important close social relationships are to her—as they are to everyone—which again highlights how isolating the six feet cystic fibrosis patients must keep between themselves are. Just as Stella tries to avoid upsetting her family with her illness, Poe avoids romantic relationships for the same reason. Will, too, decides that being apart from Stella is better than endangering her. Stella, Poe, and Will all deal with the same fundamental problem, which is that they want to avoid burdening others with their cystic fibrosis.