I smoked always and everywhere: at school during the breaks, at the University after each lecture, at the disco, in the bar, while going somewhere and even watching TV in my room. Certainly, my parents didn't know about it, but when they got to know, it was too late - I was already adult. School girls usually like smokers; they consider them to be cool and independent. But when you grow up you forget about such things and begin to understand that the words "smoking is dangerous for your health" are written on the cigarette packs not in vain.

Her name was Anastasia; I met her at the University at the third year of study. I understood that she was against smoking as soon as we met: she looked at me strictly and said: "Take it away, please". And I obeyed, just because she was so beautiful and I wanted to make her mine.

At first, I smoked secretly from Anastasia, but it was too difficult since very soon I began spending all my free time with her. And I didn't hide any more. Actually, it was the only reason for our disputes and quarrels. She just hated seeing me with a cigarette in my mouth, but I could do nothing about it. Finally, it made me angry too. It's my life, my health and it's up to me to decide whether to smoke or not! Therefore, I began smoking even more, just to show her that she couldn't rule my life (you know the majority of girls think they can).

Several months passed in such atmosphere. She understood my position and stopped reproaching me for this. I won! At least I thought so. However, soon I began losing interest in smoking - no ban, nobody nagged at me...our dates turned into a quiet, dull time-spending. Anastasia said nothing about it and I noticed I began smoking rarely. But the habit still remained – I just couldn't give it up. Then my girlfriend took another step.

That day I was waiting for her near a supermarket; she was late. Suddenly I saw a familiar figure far away and... a strange little red light in her right hand. I moved in her direction and, finally, recognized a cigarette in that light! My girlfriend was smoking! Of course, I ran wild and made a scene! I was sure that after such a quarrel she would understand how wrong she was. But the next day she came smoking; she smoked twice, while we were together, and left with a cigarette in her mouth. I was shocked!

Any time I tried to talk to her, she always parried: “But you smoke too! Why can't I?” And I didn't know what to say! I worried a lot: she is a woman, a future wife (perhaps mine) and a mother: what kind of a child will she give birth to?! I tried to explain her my thoughts about it, but everything was useless. She continued smoking exactly as often as I did.

I began reading everything I could find about the harm of smoking - in the Internet, books and magazines... When I got the endless amount of information, facts, and even pictures, I decided to attack. Every day, when she took a cigarette in her hand, I began proving her how harmful it was and what consequences it could lead to. Certainly, it was accompanied with shouts, crying, quarrels and so on, but I didn't give up, because I loved her and really wanted her to stop smoking.

Because of my attempts to make Anastasia give up smoking I didn't have time (and actually almost forgot about it) to smoke myself and didn't notice that I hadn't been smoking for a week already! Besides, now I knew so much about smoking that one morning I woke up and understood: "How stupid I was! I could have got so many problems because of these cigarettes!" And I promised myself I would never be such an idiot and would never smoke again!

My girlfriend was just waiting for such a result. As soon as she assured herself that I didn't smoke any longer she gave up too. And only then I realized - she won! Women are so sly, but clever creatures :)

Tom, 28