From inside my shell, I wait. The darkness inside has been slowly lessening. I am ready to emerge. I am prepared to rule my kingdom. I turn and shift, trying to peer outside.

A voice comes from outside. “How long until she is ready?”

Another voice answered. “Not long now. Do you see how the exterior is becoming translucent?”

“Yes, I do.”

“That is because she is almost ready. It is not long now until we have a new queen.”

I turn again. A queen. I will be a queen. It won’t be long before this colony can stop cowering in our tunnels and finally achieve our dominance. It won’t be long now. I drift off to sleep as the thought comforts me.

Me. A queen. Finally