You received that present from someone special. And because it was from someone special, you treasured it. You received it gingerly, taking in the interesting wrapper and the pretty ribbon.

It was not a very large present. Nor was it in any interesting shape. That present was about four inches long and wide and three inches high. The wrapping paper was yellow with a series of complicated-looking red patterns all over. A pretty bow completed the look of it.

“There is one condition for receiving this present,” You were told. “You can only open it six months later.”

What?! you thought. Six months later?!

But because that person was someone special, and this was a treasured gift, you agreed to that condition.

The first day passed. You were wondering what was this mystery present was. You also wondered why you had to wait for six long months to open it.

On the second day, it got a little tougher. The present was sitting on your dresser, next to that photo frame of you and your special someone. It—the present—was still in its pristine condition. After staring at it for an hour, you controlled those hands of yours and left that present alone.

Over the next few days, you carefully picked that present up and inspected it. You knocked on its surface, you shook it gently, you tilted it under the light. But you could not figure out what it was. Each day, after this routine, you would heave a disappointed sigh (killing a poor, innocent fairy in that process*), and placed the present to its original spot on your dresser.

For a month, you could barely do anything. Your thoughts are always on that present. You kept wondering what it was. Every night was spent looking at it from across your room as you sat on your bed and stared.

Finally, impatience and curiosity got the better of you.

You pulled the ribbon away and tore the wrapping paper into ugly pieces until all that was left of the present was a brown box.

“The time is now.” You said aloud and attempted to open the box. However, it would not open.

“What the hell.” You shook it a little. It had no effect on the box. You shook it a little harder. Still, nothing. By now, impatience was spewing from within you. Treasured present or not, you shook it roughly.

That present would not open.

Perhaps, you thought, It’s not time yet.

You gave it a final shake. The present refused to open. You placed it back on its spot on your dresser and went to sleep.

For the next few days, you tapped the present every now and then, hoping that by some miraculous way, the present would relent and open up. And each night, before sleep consumes you, the present would remain stubbornly closed, and your interest would disappear a little.

***

Over time, you would receive other presents. Presents that could be opened on the spot, presents that opened willingly, presents that were not like that present from someone special.

That present from someone special was no longer on your dresser, next to that photo frame of you and your special someone. It was carelessly chucked into your drawer three months later after it still refused to open.

Eventually, you forgot about it.

–

* It is said that a sigh kills a fairy.