Prologue

Sophie Townsend reflects on the quiet, mundane nature of grief following the death of her husband, Russell. Rather than manifesting as dramatic or symbolic visions, her loss appears in dreams of ordinary domestic life—arguing over breakfast cereal, searching for car keys, or deciding whose turn it is to clean the bathroom. These fragments of normalcy highlight the profound absence felt in the wake of a long-term marriage and the shared responsibility of raising two daughters. The narrative shifts from the intimacy of personal memory to the broader social isolation that accompanies widowhood, noting how others often struggle to interact with those in mourning. This account serves as a precursor to a larger exploration of survival and resilience, documenting the process of navigating life alone while keeping a family intact after a devastating personal loss.