Personal Narrative: My Journal Of Natural Science

It had been a long night at the office. I told my wife Melissa that I was going to work late to finish my newest paper. I was documenting my findings for the Journal of Natural Science. I didn't think it would literally take all evening, but I got immersed in my work, as usual, and lost all track of time.
Even though I had a laptop and a desktop at home, I liked to do most of my work at school. It was too easy to get distracted at home. In the office of my University lab, I was able to stay focused. No phone calls, no television blaring in the background, I'd even shut off my cell phone so I could be totally absorbed in the task. Furthermore, I had the added benefit of having my test materials on-hand for when I wanted to look at something.

In the distance I could hear the wail of a siren. As I walked toward the parking lot, I powered on my iPhone with one hand and fumbled for my keys with the other. I had walked this path for so many years that I didn't need to look up as I navigated my way to the lot where I had parked the day before. As the screen came to life, I looked up and took in my surroundings. Smoke plumed into the sky in the distance, but all else remained normal. A few people were about their morning business; it being early Saturday morning, that was the norm. Much of the student body had probably taken the evening as an opportunity to blow off some steam. The few ambling about were either going home from an all night party or up early to get some studying in. It looked like the former. In the distance, two people were running and the rest just seemed to lurch about. It looked almost as if they were in hopeless chase of the joggers.
Keys in hand, I thumbed the button to releasing the door to my car, a 2012 Subaru Forester. Mel thought the dark gray color would blend into the road too much, but I loved how it looked and had to have it. As I swung the door open, I noticed some of the students were coming my way. It must have been a wild night. By the way they were walking, it seemed like the party must have just let

There was a parking space open right in front. On a Saturday morning, that was weird, but what was even stranger was the fact that all the spaces in front were open. I swung into the one directly in front and to my disappointment I saw the reason. There, in the middle of the window, was a sign indicating that the store was closed. I couldn't believe it. I just sat there with my mouth open reading and rereading the same word. Why would a coffee shop be closed on a Saturday morning? My car idled as I thought of what I could do to smooth over the fact that I had not come home last