The next morning was quite sluggish. I felt my head heavy. I looked out of the window. It was still pretty dark. I felt a chill. The morning was cold.
I threw the little firewood in the fireplace and lit it up with my lighter. I opened my backpack and fished out a beer bottle and a crushed pack of cigarettes.
I popped open the beer bottle with the edge of the propane stove and chugged a few gulps.
Lighting the one straight cigarette I could find in the pack, I walked out the front door into the makeshift porch of the cabin.
The smoke formed a foggy cloud along with my breaths in the chilly air. There was no wind, just a cold stillness.
I could hear the birds and distant noises from Serwood.
The smell of the forest was quite refreshing mixed with the Rosary Rolls*.
I have myopic vision so I could only see so far. But right at the end of the porch, I could see what was very clearly a dead rabbit.
It was grey and frozen in an unsightly way.
The sight was unpleasant. I walked over to it and nudged it with my foot. It really was dead. I could see wounds on its neck. But I'm no expert to tell whether they were man made or from another animal.
I took a huge puff. The smell of rotten meat mixed in.
This wasn't shit I wanted to deal with the next morning after I moved.
I could see the reflection of the smoke in the dead rabbit's eyes and I saw something else too.
A bear.
Right beside me on the other side of the porch fence.
Did the smell of the dead rabbit brought it here?
It didn't matter.
It wasn't moving.
I didn't either.
Startling it wasn't a good option.
Or maybe it was.
Dying to a bear would make a convincing story.
I came here to die after all. It was good luck if anything to encounter that bear.
I took a huge puff and sighed out the smoke. I would've liked to finish that beer before dying.
What a rude opportunity.
I turned around, prepared to take the jaw on my neck. I closed my eyes. Seeing wasn't going to make it any easier.
I stood there.
I could hear it walking towards me.
It was strangely human. Was it observing me? Wondering if I would make a good breakfast?
Do bears walk?
I could feel it right in front of me. It smelled like the forest. A refreshing scent.
It brushed against my hair. And then silence.
Like it had vanished.
I opened my eyes and there was nothing. I checked myself, there wasn't a single scratch.
I felt weird. Strangely relieved and utterly disappointed.
I walked back into the cabin. I had another meal to figure out for myself.
*cigarette brand