"I have been waiting for death all my life. I do not mean that I actively wish to die, just that I do not really want to be alive."

"Was I alive? I hoped so, but only because if this was the location of the afterlife, I'd be lodging an appeal immediately."

"I had no idea how to respond, and opted for a smile, which serves me well on most occasions (not if it's something to do with death or illness, though -- I know that now.)"

"The words were incredibly sad, and, for an atheist like myself, entirely without hope or comfort, but still; it was our duty to sing them to the best of our ability, and to sing proudly, in honor of Sammy."