On our first date, she told me cigarettes and coffee are the best way to cure any case of constipation. I couldn’t help but notice her teeth were caffeine-stained and specks of ash clung to her lips.

Halfway through dinner, she went to the restroom.

She never came back.

Emily Ramser currently attends Salem College in pursuit of a degree in Creative Writing. Lately, she seems to do more writing than classwork, though. Check out her stuff at chickadeesweetie.wordpress.com or on Twitter, @ChickadeePoems.