What do you do when your girlfriend cheats on you with a guy who really likes Alkaline Trio? Well, you could cry about it, or you could sell the engagement ring you got for her on eBay and use the money to buy a really heavy, hyper-realistic suit of armor, just like Master Chief’s in Halo.
Eventually, unable to sell the ring in-person to anyone, the canary yellow diamond found its way to eBay, sent away in a priority mail, insurance stamped box. Distancing myself from the process made it easier. The funds in my PayPal warmed my heart for the most part, but lurked there, reminding me of what I lost and where that money came from.
I had to get rid of it.
And not just some of it, but every last penny. On something I always wanted, but could never afford. Something that would make me feel a little less empty inside.
So I immediately spent the money on a suit of Master Chief armor.
This wasn’t as sudden or spontaneous as it sounds. The Halo armor was a long time coming. For years, I’d mused over the idea, driving my closest friends mad. One day when I have the money, I’d say, thinking about that canary yellow diamond. I have to be responsible right now.
It’s funny. A lot of my so-called “adult” friends have made major life-purchases with their hard earned real-world-job money: condos, houses, cars, engagement rings for non-cheating, non-soul-destroying girlfriends.
Me? Well, outside of graduate school loans that I’m slowly paying back, my biggest life purchase is this suit of armor.
Read the entire saga at Bygone Bureau.
-Drew Millard