"I hate you!"

The calm of the canal towpath was shattered by the sounds of a heated argument. A flotilla of ducks that had been enjoying the the peace of a Sunday afternoon scattered in surprise and fear.

"I hate you!"

The words rang out again. Jocelyn stood on the gangplank that bridged the gap between the bank and the narrow boat that she and her fiancé, Alan, had hired for a week's holiday. Alan was standing on the towpath, trying to calm Jocelyn.

"It was just a fling!" he protested. "A one-night stand! It didn't mean anything!"

Jocelyn held up her mobile phone, the screen facing towards her hapless boyfriend. "A fling? And you just thought you'd put it online for everyone to see? That you'd let everyone know exactly what you thought our relationship meant?"

Alan tried to look contrite. "I'm sorry. I really am. Please?" He held out his arms, offering Jocelyn a conciliatory embrace. Instead, Jocelyn grabbed at the axe that was next to the galley stove, and brandished it at Alan.

"Don't you bloody dare!" she screamed. "Don't you dare come near me! Those arms have been around her!"

Alan retreated. "Okay! Okay! If you want some time apart, just so we can sort things out, then - ."

"Too right I do!" Jocelyn raised the axe above her head. Alan squealed in fear and raised his arms to block the blow, but he wasn't the target. Instead, the axe came down on the narrow boat's mooring rope, severing it completely. Alan, paralysed with a combination of shock and relief, watched as the current took hold of the boat and pulled it away from the bank. It took Alan a moment to recover, but by that time the boat and Jocelyn were yards away. He started to trot along the towpath.

"Where are you going? Throw me the rope and I'll pull you in!" Alan called out. Jocelyn stared at him, then fumbled at something on her right hand. "Come on!" Jocelyn raised her hand and threw something towards him. Alan felt a sudden pain as something small and hard hit him on his face then dropped to the ground. He looked down and saw something sparkling on the ground in front of him.

"There's your ring back!" Jocelyn shouted at him as the canal boat continued to drive downstream and out of sight.