She goes and looks but the fence makes it pointless really, just the tops of heads, just young hair and fringes and she wonders how long she has to live. Of course, she might die tomorrow. He did.
-- Narrator (chapter 1)

Importance: The quote illustrates how the widow wants to be involved with the people around her, but she does not know whom to ask to be included. It demonstrates the widow’s mindset that she does not think she has value to the younger people because she is aging.

You are simply deflecting away any possibility of empathy, connection, offer of friendship. You are running away from your own story. You are bitter and lonely and terrified that you will be like this for the rest of your life. But if someone were to knock on your door and ask you your story you would turn them away. Because how can you tell...
-- Narrator (chapter 1)