1. Charge his phone. Do it in the family room with the bad chairs, under the vending light, while the doctors are still using the present tense.
2. Do not try his birthday. You get five attempts and you will need all five later.
3. Do not gel your hands at the door. The sensor hates gel.
4. The sensor wants a living finger — warmth, a little damp. Hold his hand between both of yours under the blanket. You have held it for other reasons. You are not saying goodbye. You are keeping a battery warm.
5. When they let you back in, be quick and be calm. Right thumb, flat, no rolling. If the screen shakes its head, warm the thumb against your neck and try again. You have used two.
6. The continuation application asks for ninety days of him — messages, walks, voice notes, the small hours. It cannot ask him.
7. When the phone opens, do not read anything yet. (You will read everything.)
8. The thumb will keep working for a day, maybe two. No one will tell you this. You will think about it at the funeral.
9. Put his hand back the way you found it.
10.
11. If you are alone, sit on the side she used. This is not required and there is no charge for it. It helps.
12. It was never yours to keep warm.