Envelope, Labelled "for return"

A small envelope, found among the relics in the wagon, holding a knot of animal hair. On its face, in the naturalist’s hand, two words. For return.

To whom, and to where, the archive does not say. It is a debt left open, a thing gathered and meant to be given back, sealed and then not delivered.

All things burn to begin again. The envelope keeps its charge the way an ember keeps under ash, waiting on a hand that stopped coming.