Picking huckleberries, with no sense of time. Sunset. Dark shape breaks into three.

Your eyes focus on a bear and two cubs. They sniff the air.

Cubs climb a tree. Mama sits underneath.

Moving forward, you say, “It’s okay,” more for your benefit than hers. You are the trespasser here.

Roni Slye spends much of her time in the woods, trying to have as little interaction with wildlife as possible. You can find her on Twitter.