Piper's Journal: Chapter 1:

#63 What is your character's favorite item they like to carry with them? Why? Draw or write about your character with their item. 

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Piper gazed at the setting of the sun before them as they felt the gentle breeze of the wind blowing, and took in the comfortably lit beach environment they were graciously given to enjoy. As Piper looked down slightly at the sand they sat on, Piper could feel the soft sand squish between their fingers.

Piper loved the beach.

Something else that Piper loved, was the item in their hand.

An old gold pocket watch.

 

Piper had remembered the day like any other.

They had finally gotten through their first week of living on their own, quite the accomplishment since their home was starting to feel strained, whether it be the struggle of Piper's academics (mostly math being to blame), the shift between homes that Piper would have to make every weekend, just to see their dad, who they weren't even on best terms with, or the suffocating feeling that their mom could frequently push on them.

Needless to say, Piper was looking forward to moving out toward their later years...

Strangely though, the fear that had often remained present alongside this excitement was beginning to fade, especially toward the end of Piper's final senior semester. Piper wanted more and more to be free, despite all their anxieties. So when Piper had saved up their money well and had an excuse to leave (that being college), Piper took it the moment they graduated. Piper made plans of what they'd bring, how they'd live their life for the first week, and other such new and unfamiliar adult responsibilities. It was pretty scary, everything considered, but...

Piper had found that adult life wasn't as scary as they thought it'd be. Heck, it was almost like before.

Just... Minus the parents breathing down your neck...

Piper, who was sitting on the beach and reliving their memories of that Saturday, smiled a bit at the pocketwatch.

Ah yes, the pocket watch.

When Saturday had finally come along, things seemed okay. Piper was working a close to minimum wage job, at some pet store. It was a good starter job until they could manage a better-paying one, and Piper loved animals anyway. Piper was getting around 300 bucks a week which honestly really wasn't a bad income for a starter job. And as such, they decided to go to the mall with a budget and buy them a few things as a reward.

Piper wasn't really your average spender. They were more into going into game stores or little niche and lesser-known stores. Piper especially loved mixture stores, like the ones that had a little bit of everything, divided in neat sections.

One of the things that drew in Piper's attention though, was an old antique pocket watch. Shiny gold, but a dirtier shine. It had an off-white face that may have once been snow white but likely weathered with age. In general, the store that Piper found themself in was mimicking a similar vibe. It was a quaint store with an old wood feel, vaguely resembling an old retirement home but strangely, in a good way...? 

Piper never thought they could ever associate a retirement home with something good, but here they were.

 But ignoring that, Piper's attention was mostly drawn on the pocket watch.

To be honest, Piper was always fascinated with pretty much anything that existed before the 2000's. They loved the golden age of animation especially, and many items considered 'vintage' such as typewriters, phonographs, old retro TVs... Heck, even places or time periods like old diners or the Tamagotchi and Furby fads. If it wasn't from Piper's time, they were probably into it. This pocketwatch looked like it came from the 1930s...

Piper expected it to be at least three hundred dollars if not closer to one or two thousand...

"Only sixty-eight dollars!" Said a friendly store-runner who Piper didn't realize was there. Piper's eyes moved from the watch to the lady and back to the watch. "Only sixty-eight?" They couldn't hide their intrigue. The owner nodded her head quickly. "Yep! Been actually strugglin' to get rid of it. Nobody uses that stuff anymore. Ain't useful apparently!" Piper stared at the watch for a long moment. They knew that with them living on their own, they should hold off on impulse buys...

But this watch was practically yelling Piper's name.

"I'll take it."

 

Piper looked back at the sea before returning their gaze to the watch. They rubbed back and forth on the rim lightly, feeling the age of the metal on their hands. It really was a steal. It still worked too.

The story goes that the watch was a long-running family heirloom that was said to bring safety and protection.

Piper felt safe with it...

They usually just attached the watch to their backpack, like some sort of keychain item.

Nonetheless, it was a purchase they certainly don't regret.