If the very nature of our self implies that we have a husband, then imagining ourselves in the future automatically brings him, too. And it’s easy to see why we would feel as though part of our self is missing after our husband’s death, if our identity integrates “wife” as part of “self.” On the other hand, if we have many aspects of our identity that are unrelated to the deceased, such as “sister” or “supervisor,” then events that come to mind are just as likely not to include them.
