I fully understand the Catch-22 with getting an agent: Agents want someone who's published before, but how can a person get published without an agent? As hard as it is, it happens all the time. All successful writers were once in the same boat you are, but they found a way to do it.
What happens in the past, is in the past. But don't be surprised if it comes back and haunts you.
Because being comfortable meant she might lower her guard, and she could not let that happen.
What happens if a car comes? We die.
There are things that happen that change the course of people's lives, but it's a function of everybody's lives.