The Swarm
May 24, 2017 – Began like any other day at the office, a predictable rhythm of tasks and breaks. At lunchtime, I stepped outside, the afternoon sun warming the pavement beneath my feet. As I strolled along, my attention was drawn to a small group of insects darting past me. Intrigued, I looked up—and froze. Above me, an astonishing sight unfolded. Thousands upon thousands of bees swarmed in the air, a golden, humming cloud that seemed almost otherworldly. Their collective movement created a mesmerizing dance against the sky, a living symphony of nature’s precision. What struck me most was the juxtaposition of this vibrant display of life with a memory that surfaced almost immediately. Earlier that year, I had read reports of the alarming decline of bee populations, warnings that these critical pollinators were teetering on the edge of extinction. Yet here they were—more bees than I had ever seen in my life, defying the grim predictions. What was even more curious was their beh...