return Absent.withType();
  }

  /**
   * Returns an {@code Optional} instance containing the given non-null reference. To have {@code
   * null} treated as {@link #absent}, use {@link #fromNullable} instead.
   *
   * <p><b>Comparison to {@code java.util.Optional}:</b> no differences.
   *
   * @throws NullPointerException if {@code reference} is null
   */
  public static <T> Optional<T> of(T reference) {