I take the envelope in my hands, turning it over and over, fingers shaking. Black, white, black, white - a symbolic duality perhaps, counterpointed by the colourful crayon of a child?

I am making up my mind to open it, thinking at the speed of a cat through quicksand, when from behind me another "schlep-plop", although smaller this time, startles me to the point of cardiac arrest!

It is another envelope, black side up, a quarter the size...

I turn it over to the white. This one is blank. No crayon. No markings at all. This makes it less intimidating somehow and I tear at its edges to rip it open immediately.

Inside, a single piece of paper, folded once. There are three words on it, in crayon... the first in red, the second in orange, the third in green. It says:

JUST OPEN IT

RATE THIS BRANCH!

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This is a supernatural / metaphysical detective story, where the mystery of the protagonist's life is the case to be solved!

It can go anywhere. But would prefer if it stayed in first person narrative and didn't give away too much too soon - it's all about the tease...

updated Jul 3 by DrPinch