1
The place you need to reach is rarely arms-length.
Sometimes a fire will help.
The smell of a burning kitchen can make you hungry.
Your list of Things To Save In A Fire may or may not help if the list is the thing you save.
The list must not include living persons or pets: those you must remember without lists.
Sometimes, under the bed is the worst place for the cat to be.
Never allow yourself to rank the items on your list in order of importance.
Making new lists is essential.
2
If The Husband tries to kill you and then himself, he is guaranteed at least one out of the two.
This can happen only once.
There is not as much relief in this knowledge as you thought.
Sometimes a detached garage is good during a house fire.
The garage is a filmic trope that serves any and all functions because you may fill it with cars, spillover, and/or memories.
Sometimes the memories support the integrity of the structure.
Police officers are required to leave the rope where they found it, hanging in the garage.
3
If you are conflicted about the process of mourning, remain silent.
If you hold competing emotions, choose the one most suited to a black dress.
Sometimes you will miss passionate conversations over glasses of water in a dark kitchen.
When the children of The Husband from a previous marriage attempt to rob the garage, let them.
If you are robbed by the angry adult children of your husband after he has hanged himself, you are allowed to laugh and cry at the same time.
A bowl of cereal is comforting until the remaining milk is too sweet, and you remember you are not a child.