This is for Advent Ghost’s 2018 at I Saw Lightning Fall. Short snippets of 100 words.
Once upon a time a troll gave me a gift.
“The day you die, you will open this box,” she said.
I cast it into a nearby stream and watched it float away.
It was waiting for me the next morning in my childhood closet.
I nearly opened it at University the night of my first true heartbreak.
…and after our first real fight (it met the wood-burning stove that night).
…and when I lost my job.
…and when I lost her.
My lonely, arthritic hands tremble as I chuck into the bin on this cold Christmas morn.
Not today.
The Struggling Writer 
Oh, this one’s great. Paul, have you ever read Neil Gaiman’s “Troll Bridge”? It has that same feel to it.
I don’t think I’ve read Gaiman’s Troll Bridge. I have read Pratchett’s Troll Bridge, featuring Cohen the Barbarian: http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/athenia/stories/pterry/troll.htm
Good stuff, very nicely done, Paul.
Thank you Kel
Nice riff on fate and choice. I’ll remember this one.
I can’t think of a nicer complement than you will remember it. Thank you!
Wow! I wondered where this was going to take me. Most interesting!
Thank you for reading and commenting!
“Not Today.”
Powerful stuff!
Thanks! And thanks for reading.