I pulled the oxygen tubes from my nostrils and raised the tube up over my head, handing it to Dad. I wanted it to be just me and just him.

The times that were most fun seemed always to be followed by sadness now, because it was when life started to feel like it did when she was with us that we realized how utterly gone she was.

You'll live forever in our hearts, big man. That particularly galled me, because it implied the immortality of those left behind: You will live forever in my memory, because I will live forever! I AM YOUR GOD NOW, DEAD BOY! I OWN YOU!

You say you're not special because the world doesn't know about you, but that's an insult to me. I know about you.

Everything's uglier close up," she said. "Not you," I answered.

depression is not a side effect of cancer. Depression is a side effect of dying.

I'm not saying it was your fault. I'm saying it wasn't nice.