Buzzing Like a Bee

She couldn't remember a time when there wasn't a constant, low buzzing in her head. As she grew older, there were moments when the sound seemed to grow more intense, and other times when it got so soft she could barely hear it. She knew, realistically, that it was all in her head. Literally.

Everyone could hear their own sounds, though. It had been some part of a genetic experiment, causing the body to react to certain pheromones. She learned that helpful tidbit in advanced biology. The scientists who happened upon it nearly a century ago had claimed it would help people to find their most compatible life partners. Of course, they neglected to mention how absolutely maddening the sounds could be.

She learned, over time, that the louder the buzzing, the worse the partner. Then, too, sometimes the sound was deceiving. It would start quiet, but something would happen, and it would grow louder, and louder, until it was almost unbearable, but because it was gradual, she didn't notice until it was too late.

There were quite a few "almost rights". She stayed with them for a time, mostly because she had no better options. It was settling, and she knew it. Still, if it could grow louder over time, surely the reverse could be true? She wasn't willing to dismiss someone entirely until she was sure.

But it never happened. No one made the sound lessen, and she grew convinced that she'd deal with it for the rest of her life. When she was alone, it was almost pleasant, in a way, or at least that's what she told herself.

Until one day, the buzzing just... stopped.