News of the bear quickly spread through the neighborhood. Emma received texts and calls. For the rest of the day, Emma couldn’t focus on anything else. She jumped at every sound and checked the front door at least a dozen times. She kept Rose inside and away from the backyard, which was unusual for them as they normally loved spending time outside together after school. That night, Emma left the porch light on and brought in anything that might smell like food. She double-checked all the locks again, her nerves frayed. Rose wanted to camp out in the living room just in case the bear returned. Emma agreed, hoping they’d feel safer together in one room.
Emma barely slept, listening for any sign of movement outside. Around dawn, she heard a faint rustling near the porch. She sat up on the couch, careful not to wake Rose. She held her breath and tiptoed to the window, peeking outside just as the first light filtered through the trees. There it was again, just as it had been the two days before. The bear walked up straight to her front door and pressed its nose against the peephole. The front door camera picked up every detail in full, and Emma stood there not knowing what to do with all of this.
What does it want from us? The sadness in the bear’s demeanor seemed even more intense on this third day, almost like a person whose time was running out. The bear looked desperate, pawing at the welcome mat and making a low, mournful sound. Emma’s fear mixed with a growing sense of curiosity. Something was clearly drawing this bear to their home every morning…