text: &#x200B; I finished my third cup of coffee, and asked myself, why she didn't show up. Was it because of my profile picture? Did she change her mind at the last second? Why didn't she text me? Was I not good enough, was I not interesting enough? All these questions, but no answers. I walked past the homeless looking old man, who smelled like sweat and beer. I proceeded to walk across the coffee shop, and grabbed the golden-colored door handle. I felt the cold wind on my face, it felt soothing after spending an hour in the overly warm coffee shop. The snow-covered city looked beautiful. I reached for my pocket, and took out a pack of cigarettes. I almost gagged every time I saw the warning picture in the pack, it was horrendous. I opened the pack, and took out a cigarette with my thumb and index finger. I put it between my slightly chapped lips, and at the same time I tried to find my lighter. Twenty seconds later, I was certain, that I had lost it at some point. &#x200B; "Damn." I mumbled out loud. "Something wrong?" I noticed the woman on my left. She had long black hair and beautiful brown eyes, they were like pools of honey. She had a burning cigarette between her index and middle finger. "Can you give me a light?" I asked. "Why do you smoke?" I was slightly flustered by her response. &#x200B; It was a good question.Why did I really smoke? I knew it killed me slowly, but for some depressing reason I didn't even care. As I tried to come up with an answer, she took a drag from her cigarette. &#x200B; "It's like a time out for me, to relax and calm myself down, I guess." I answered. She replied almost immediately, with smoke coming out of her mouth. "Well that's not a really good reason, now is?" &#x200B; Why is she judging me? She's not better than me. &#x200B; "Well please do enlighten me with your superior reason of smoking these cancer sticks. -" I answered with sarcasm. "Or are you just being a hypocrite?" I continued "Oh you're a prickly one." She said."But to answer your question: No, I don't have a better reason. Actually, I've thought about quitting." Her voice was soft but determined. "Good for you, so do you have a lighter or not?" I was getting impatient. "Tell you what. People say, that quitting with a friend is easier. So here's the deal" She took a drag from her cigarette. "You're going to quit smoking with me." She said, as she exhaled the smoke. &#x200B; I was confused by her statement. Is this woman crazy? I don't even know her name. &#x200B; "What if I don't want to?" I asked. "It would be a shame, since both of us would gain from quitting." As she answered, she dropped the cigarette butt on the ground and stepped on it. &#x200B; What do I have to lose? &#x200B; "Fine, I'll try to quit smoking with you." I answered, with a slightly frustrated voice. "Great!" She was visibly relieved. "Here's my number, call me sometime and lets come up with a plan how to quit." As she was talking, she gave me a small paper note. After giving me the note, she reached for her pocket, took out her lighter and lit up my cigarette. No words required. "Hey, what's your name?" I asked her, after getting my first drag from the cigarette. "I'll tell you when we meet again, so you can look forward to it." "Like a Christmas present, huh? Well that's fine with me." &#x200B; Before she left, she reminded me to call her. "I'll remember, don't worry." I answered. &#x200B; I finished my cigarette, and threw the cigarette butt in the snow. As I walked back home, I saw a trash can on the side of the road. I approached it and threw my pack of cancer sticks in the dark green can. &#x200B; It was going to be a long road but this was the first step.