Alexandra Shulman's column is a personal essay reflecting on three interconnected life experiences following her mother's death in February. She interprets a series of mishaps involving inherited jewellery—a watch and bracelet—as spiritual messages from her deceased mother discouraging her from wearing them, finding a strange comfort in this perceived communication. The piece weaves together reflections on childhood fears and recent life events to explore themes of loss, mortality and memory.

The author describes how the inherited watch was eventually found after three weeks but subsequently malfunctioned, and how the Pippa Small bracelet broke twice, including once whilst she slept. She reflects on a frightening incident when her young son Sam went missing briefly in Rome decades ago, using this to empathise with the family of Noah Wood, whose body was recently discovered in a local pond. She also recounts attending an Oasis reunion concert at Wembley with her now 31-year-old son last year, noting that the band's announcement of another tour has undermined the specialness of that unique reunion performance.