So you bumped into that stunning woman or rugged guy again on the subway — your brain simply short-circuits whenever you feel that instant spark of chemical attraction — and stepping off the blue line come your stop, all you can do is pull your hair out in frustration and text your friend for sympathy … yet another missed connection. Worse yet is if you constantly see the one over whom you’ve been pining — perhaps in class or at the library — but because of some blind, fuzzy, butterfly feeling, you can only make moronic mumbling noises in their presence.

But does that mean the end? Not necessarily. Countless people are going online to post subtle descriptions of that certain mysterious someone wearing a particular accessory. What a romantic notion: two complete strangers, living and working in a city where everyone is somewhat skeptical of one another, noticing each other in passing, connecting in the subway or at a concert? What kind of person doesn’t get a little weak in the knees thinking about that magic moment?

Short of searching high and low for one particular person in a city of millions (or even just a suburb of thousands), you likely won’t find that stranger again. Plus, even if you manage to come across them again in the future, who’s to say you won’t turn into that stuttering mess of hormones and awkward sentences that utters caveman talk rather than intelligible speech? “Me like dress” accompanied by a thumbs up and an over-exaggerated smile. Pretty embarrassing, wouldn’t you agree?

Luckily, we live in the digital age, and you can test your dating theories with Craigslist by posting your “missed connection.” With the safeguard of anonymity and the option to post your picture or not, you can see if that certain someone (what was their name again?) felt the same spark, those same fireworks during your brief encounter. Of course, browsing the Missed Connections section of Craigslist, you’re bound to come across adolescent breakup tirades about how someone broke another person’s heart (which actually belong in “Rants and Raves”), but there are also genuine people who actually regret missing their opportunity and might find a second chance in Craigslist now.

Include whatever details you want. Maybe you remember every facet of the conversation you two shared on the airplane, or perhaps you just remember they were standing outside of a coffeehouse wearing sunglasses last Friday. Perhaps you’re not looking to meet again and all you wanted to say was that you enjoyed their company, or maybe their sleepy eyes and pouty lips are driving you wild and you need to buy them a drink, extra ice, stat! In fact, someone could be posting one about you this very second, hoping that you remember them from the laundry mat, the mention of tighty-whities a dead giveaway.

And maybe they read your post, maybe they don’t. Maybe they respond with “flattered, but seeing someone” or “the feeling was mutual, let’s meet again?” That’s too many maybes to count, I know; what’s certain, however, is that Craigslist does offer a second chance, however slim the odds. The ten minutes you invest in writing a blurb about your encounter could help you reconnect you with your dreamboat. Seems like a pretty good alternative to fuming about your missed opportunity for weeks on end.

Related:: Casual Encounters: Strangers connecting on Craigslist