The Graveyard Book

by Neil Gaiman

“He looks like nobody but himself,” said Mrs. Owens, firmly. “He looks like nobody.” “Then Nobody it is,” said Silas. “Nobody Owens.”

Scarlett shrugged. “Well,” she said. “There’s atoms, which is things that is too small to see, that’s what we’re all made of. And there’s things that’s smaller than atoms, and that’s particle physics.” Bod nodded and decided that Scarlett’s father was probably interested in imaginary things.

LIKE JADEN <3

It’s like the people who believe they’ll be happy if they go and live somewhere else, but who learn it doesn’t work that way. Wherever you go, you take yourself with you. If you see what I mean.”

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.”

Fear is contagious. You can catch it. Sometimes all it takes is for someone to say that they’re scared for the fear to become real.

“I’m not frightened of dying,” said Bod. “It’s just, so many people I care for have spent so much time keeping me safe, teaching me, protecting me.”

Bod felt his eyes stinging. He said, “She used to call me Nimini. No one will ever call me that again.”

You’re always you, and that don’t change, and you’re always changing, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Bod said, “If I change my mind can I come back here?” And then he answered his own question. “If I come back, it will be a place, but it won’t be home any longer.”

But between now and then, there was Life; and Bod walked into it with his eyes and his heart wide open.