title: Wake Up and Smell the Coffee!:: Advice, Wisdom, and Uncommon Good Sense
author:  Ann Landers 
description: Advice columnist Landers offers a survey of her most memorable columns complete with a selection of poems, essays, etc.<BR>Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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  ![](index-1_1.jpg)
  
  
  Prologue
  
  
  
  
  
  The End of a Romance
  
  
  
  
  
  PRESENT
  
  
  25 February 2019
  
  
  
  
  
  Have you ever disappeared from someone’s life just like that? No intimation.
  No conversation. Nothing. Well, I’m going to do that. Today. In fact, in a few
  hours.
  
  
  Since the time I woke up, I had a knot in my stomach. The ominous kind that
  constantly whispered that nothing would go right. I don’t remember the last
  time I woke up with my head buzzing like this. But the good thing was I was
  looking ahead to a busy day. Busy days take care of whispers like these and
  other unnecessary thoughts. I had no time to waste but my anxiety led me to an
  early morning smoke. I do smoke but not this early. I have my first cigarette
  with coffee after I reach office. But today was different. Or perhaps today
  was mundane but I was different. For starters, I was not going to office.
  
  
  I looked out as I exhaled a puff of smoke, admiring the vivid splash of colour
  that was already appearing at th