Finding one at a salvage yard is your best bet, honestly. Ask for a fuel accumulator and if they really can't find it, maybe it's listed as a fuel filter housing. Try car-part before you call around because even though both aren't listed on there, check to see if they have anything for an 88 2.9. Chances are that if they do, they will probably have your part and save you time.
You're not the first one to make the mistake of opening up one of these. They even sell a replacement filter for it, if you have one actually in there. Some years don't.....
Things happen. I don't think any of this makes you an "unsafe" person or stupid. You were just looking to do a tune up on a truck and found out the hard way about something we know not to open. We only know because we've seen a few people over the years deal with it like you have. Do a google search for it and you find countless problems just like this. You might even find a solution to get you out of your bind for now.