This man has kept a gift from his ex unopened for 47 years

Usually it doesn’t take long for the wrapping to be ripped off a gift - but one man has left his in tact for 47 years after the ex-girlfriend who bought it broke up with him.

Adrian Pearce was a 17-year-old student in 1970 in Toronto when his love gave him the present - and managed to break up with him at the same time.

Adrian told CBC: “She gave me a present at the same time and I took the present home.

“I had a long walk home and I was all upset and angry, and all the things you feel when somebody breaks up with you. And so I fired the present under the Christmas tree.

“After my family opened their gifts at Christmas, there was still one Christmas gift left and it’s the gift this girl Vicki had given me. ‘I told my family I’m never going to open that present.”

True to his word, the gift remains unopened nearly half a century later.

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The former couple did actually meet again, when his ex, Vicki’s sister approached him and said Vicki wanted to see him again. Their relationship drifted apart once they realised they weren’t interested in dating again, but Adrian kept the flame alive by placing the present under the tree each year - even after he got married and had children.

When his kids asked to open the present, he refused. Eventually, his wife put a stop to the tradition.

Image: Facebook

Recently he attempted to get in touch with Vicki by ringing her old phone number, but to no avail. He even tried numbers for local women called Vicki, but admits he doesn’t know what he’d say if his former girlfriend did answer the phone.

"I kept it initially because I guess I had hopes that we would get back together and open it together. Now it's just become a habit after 47 years of looking at it and having the pleasure of not opening it," Pearce said.

"Maybe I don't want to know what's inside it. It's more exciting right now not opening the thing."

He’s considering opening the gift on its 50th anniversary, holding a contest for people to predict what’s inside with proceeds going to charity.

Any guesses?

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