Eventually, the bear ambled away from the door and disappeared around the side of the house. Emma’s hands shook as she let the curtain drop. She listened hard for more sounds and told herself it must have been a fluke, just a wandering animal. But this would prove to be far from over. Later that morning, she told Rose about the encounter over breakfast. Rose’s eyes went wide with curiosity. A real bear? Did you take a picture? Emma shook her head, forcing a smile. No, I didn’t think of it. Hopefully, it’s gone by now. Still, she found herself checking the yard often. Emma couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling the bear left behind. She texted a neighbor about what happened, and they joked about it, saying, “Maybe the bear just wanted some breakfast, too.” Emma managed a laugh, but her eyes kept flicking to the window, searching for any sign of movement outside.