This was the same routine she’d watched Albert follow for decades. Flashlights in the drawer, candles on the table, nothing left plugged in. She couldn’t afford to forget anything. Being alone meant there was no one to double-check. She made her way through the house, one careful task at a time.
She unplugged the television, turned off lamps, tested the flashlight batteries, and made sure her phone was fully charged. Then she started going from room to room, closing every window and locking each one tight. The clouds were darkening outside, pushing more light out of the house with each minute.