I was too cheap to bail my car out of the parking garage at Mason after my group meeting and exam ended around 4:15pm, so I decided to spend the three hours until my next class reading bestsellers in the bookstore. For the past few months, I have been plodding through an adorable book in the campus bookstore entitled Marley & Me (about a man and his troublesome dog), and I planned to finish it today.

The book was enjoyable – not exactly a classic, but heartwarming read nonetheless, especially for someone who has two headstrong monsters of her very own. However, as I came to the end of the book when Marley dies (it’s not like I’m spoiling the ending; did you think the book was about an immortal dog?), I became very sad.

Okay, that’s an understatement. I sat on the floor of the bookstore, surrounded by empty packages of beef jerky and gummy bears, and sniffled as big alligator tears rolled down my cheeks. I’m surprised they didn’t ask me to leave. I think it was one of those times where everybody slowly backs away from the crazy lady and tries to keep really still, lest she be alerted to their presence and decide to pounce.