There's an interpretation in the comments that suggests that she's having a NDE, shedding practically everything but still clinging to life (in her mind).
On a side note, I wish there was an aggregator like HN or a subreddit for short fiction. In the past year, I remember the Machine Stops being shared here as well as Bartholomew F. Bartholomew, which I really enjoyed. This one wasn't as satisfying, but it captured my attention for about 20 minutes.
