Telomeres and the Accumulation of Unresolved Execution, Lantern of Sulfur, Convergence, v12, May 2026

This preprint is part of the Lantern of Sulfur (LoS), Vertical Terrain Axis — Convergence Series. This paper develops a convergence-based interpretation of telomere dynamics, proposing that telomere shortening may reflect not only replication count, oxidative damage, or molecular wear, but also the accumulated cost of unresolved physiological execution across time. Within the Lantern of Sulfur framework, chronicity emerges when biological systems remain active under persistent load while successful convergence progressively fails. Under this view, telomeres may function as temporal integrity markers: biological records of whether regulatory cycles are completed, recovery is achieved, and coherence is restored across repeated stress, inflammatory, mitochondrial, autonomic, circadian, and metabolic challenges. The paper situates telomere dynamics within broader systems-biology questions involving chronic stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, autonomic dysregulation, Directional Pressure Failure (DPF), temporal coherence, and biological aging. This work is presented as a conceptual and mechanistic framework intended to generate testable hypotheses and improve pattern recognition. It is not a treatment protocol and should not be used as a substitute for individualized medical care. For the complete Lantern of Sulfur framework, reading order, and updated convergence dynamics materials, see the Lantern of Sulfur Master Index (Concept DOI): https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17915492