In Miriam Toews' "All My Puny Sorrows," a character mentions that their relationship relies on the condition that they do not smoke, which leads to shared laughter. This highlights the sometimes absurd or simple agreements that form the basis of personal connections.
The characters are also described as being tired, too exhausted to face conflicts or difficult truths, reflecting a sense of emotional or physical exhaustion that permeates their interactions and the narrative as a whole.