In our local cemetery, there is a grave that people rarely approach too closely. It sits slightly apart from the others, neither neglected nor properly maintained, as though it exists in a quiet in-between state. The path leading to it is faintly worn, suggesting that while few visit, some cannot resist returning. What draws them is not the name carved into the stone—weathered to near illegibility—nor any remarkable decoration. It is what covers the grave that has unsettled generations.
At first glance, the covering appears ordinary. Depending on the season, it might resemble a thick cloth, a layer of waxy leaves, or even a dull, matte tarp. But no one can agree on what it truly is. Those who claim to have touched it describe different sensations: one says it felt like damp fabric, another insists it was rigid and brittle, like old bark. A few claim it seemed to shift subtly under their fingers, as if responding to contact.
This inconsistency is where the stories begin.