She'll understand what I already know - that death surrounds us all. And it tastes like metal between your teeth.

It's utterly beautiful not to know my own edges.

when I was four I almost fell down the shaft of a tin mine and when I was five the car rolled over on the motorway and when I was seven we went on holiday and the gas ring blew out in the caravan and nobody noticed I've been dying all my life

It's all right, Tessa, you can go. We love you. You can go now.' 'Why are you saying that?' 'She might need permission to die, Cal.' 'I don't want her to. She doesn't have my permission.

I wish I had a boyfriend. I wish he lived in the wardrobe on a coat hanger. Whenever I wanted, I could get him out and he'd look at me the way boys do in films, as if I'm beautiful.

Hold my hand. Don't let go.

I want the people I love to get up and speak about me, and even if you cry it'll be OK. I want you to say honest things.