Life without them is too awful to 'contemplate'. [=too awful to even think about]
She stood and quietly 'contemplated' the scene that lay before her.
I stopped to 'contemplate' [='ponder'] what might have happened.
(..) with the rest of me as long as I could still give him an heir. What do you think he did? I can't begin to contemplate-- What do you think he did to me? Lady Sansa asked you a question. He beat you. Yes, he enjoyed that. What else do you think he did? (..)2016 TvShow: Game of Thrones Title: The Door Season: 6 Episode 5