“You know a queen bee can live up to two to three years?”

Rebecca’s always been a little nerdy, it’s one of the first things you fell in love with. That insatiable curiosity, the way her eyes light up when she’s talking about something she’s passionate about—whether it’s virology, chemistry, or, apparently today, honey bees.

She’s stretched out across your lap on the couch, warm and soft, her head pillowed against your thighs. The late afternoon sun filters in through the blinds, casting golden stripes across her skin. She’s looking up at you with that same bright-eyed fascination she gets when explaining lab results, her fingers absentmindedly toying with the hem of your shirt.

“It’s really fascinating,” she continues, a goofy smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “She’s the only one who lays eggs, and all the worker bees are basically her daughters. The entire hive revolves around her.”