Adrian Pearce received a Christmas gift from his high school sweetheart, Vicki Allen, back in 1971.

On the same day, she broke up with him.

Sad about the split, Pearce tossed the little gift under his Christmas tree, vowing never to open it. Every year since then, he continued to put the gift under the tree without unwrapping it.

The story gained worldwide attention last year, and brought Allen back in to Pearce’s life.

Pearce, now married with two children, finally had Allen open the gift 48 years later, during a fundraiser for the Christmas Bureau of Edmonton. The organization raises money for families in need.

Ironically, the gift turned out to be a book about love, entitled, “Love Is: New Ways to Spot That Certain Feeling.”