The Graveyard Book

by Neil Gaiman

Silas said, “Out there, the man who killed your family is, I believe, still looking for you, still intends to kill you.” Bod shrugged. “So?” he said. “It’s only death. I mean, all of my best friends are dead.” “Yes.” Silas hesitated. “They are. And they are, for the most part, done with the world. You are not. You’re alive, Bod. That means you have infinite potential. You can do anything, make anything, dream anything. If you change the world, the world will change. Potential. Once you’re dead, it’s gone. Over. You’ve made what you’ve made, dreamed your dream, written your name. You may be buried here, you may even walk. But that potential is finished.”

Us in the graveyard, we wants you to stay alive. We wants you to surprise us and disappoint us and impress us and amaze us. Come home, Bod.”

“If he didn’t care about you, you couldn’t upset him,” was all she said.