The Last Straw

Kira would rather get a call from a divorce lawyer than one from the traffic police. ‘Mrs McCarthy, we are sorry to inform you that your husband has…’ She shook her head to banish that horrifying scenario from her mind. Gideon refused to let her go. ‘Come on, stop lying to yourself! Have you been reading the news? Rumours about him are flying.’ ‘Shut up!’ Kira covered her ears with both hands. Gideon gently pulled her hand down. ‘Kira, you’ll have to face reality sooner or later. No one has seen him for ten days, even people at his own company. If he’s still alive, why won’t—’ The rest of his words were stuck in his throat. Kira slapped him hard across the face. ‘I hate you!’ Kira shrieked. She ran off with tears streaming down her cheeks. Gideon remained where he was. His cheeks stung. Kira had not held back in that slap. He watched the woman he loved disappear into the crowd. He wasn’t mad. It was okay. Kira’s reaction was anticipated. He had gone through the same stages of grief whe