Will’s decision to go on the roof exemplifies his opinion that taking care of his health is not worth it if it prevents him from doing things he wants to do. From the rooftop, he can at least see the town he’s in, though he wants to be more involved in the world. Will has a coughing fit on the roof because his lungs are very weak, which is why people with cystic fibrosis generally have to be careful not to get out of breath. As Will’s stumbling shows, getting out of breath can be incredibly dangerous for a CF patient.