The Way The World Really Works

Couples quarrelled. That was just par for the course. Even Giana and Noah would get into an occasional spat. But she would never throw words like ‘I want a break-up’ in his face. She knew how hurtful they could be. Once uttered, they could never be taken back. Giana thought Kira just wanted some fresh air when she said she wanted to take a walk. She had no idea when or how Kira had drawn up the divorce papers. Kira said nothing. She stood with her shoulders back, looking up at Austyn defiantly. Then she held out a ballpoint pen, borrowed from the shopkeeper. ‘Please sign it.’ Austyn didn’t take the pen. He smoothed out the paper, which had been crumpled up by him. Then he tore it to shreds, slowly and methodically. He kept going until the piece of paper was reduced to a handful of confetti. Kira watched him with a blank face. When he was done, she removed another folded-up copy from her pants pocket. ‘There’s plenty more where that came from.’ She made twenty copies of the agreement. A