One year after taking office, Victorino remained in his study. He sat hunched over his desk, signing documents without pause: bills, decrees, minor resolutions that, nonetheless, carried the weight of an entire country. He read every sheet before affixing his signature, as if searching for something more than words in every line.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJb8U9BF9V
Hours passed without him noticing. The silence in the office began to grow thick. Finally, he set down his pen, rested both hands on the wood, and stood up with a weary sigh. He informed the guards that he was going out for some air.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0wo57w3TH
He crossed the threshold of the Government House and walked aimlessly to a nearby square. There weren't many people; just a few children, a couple of distracted parents, and the soft murmur of the city following its course. Victorino sat on a bench and closed his eyes. For the first time all day, he breathed without haste.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6yK8MJaH5
The tranquility didn't last long.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2A3owPAFjb
"Good afternoon, sir."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzeHoh14A6
Victorino did not open his eyes.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIEayQuaHU
"Fausto," he said simply.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VTZ28nt4L
"In the flesh."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPxVjZfIVn
Victorino offered a faint smile, a tired gesture that fell short of joy.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rjYdHRVqD
"Here again?"192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiEDHwnhEU
Fausto shrugged.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPFyA44j5B
"I came with my daughter. Didn't think I'd find you here."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoWDL9lX2A
Victorino opened his eyes and looked toward the sandbox, where a little girl played with deep concentration, oblivious to everything.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszguPFGnVf
"Ah... I see."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYr8stwaAJh
"Isn't she beautiful?" said Fausto, with a pride he made no attempt to hide.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTdHycA2H6
"Yes, she is," Victorino replied. "And your wife?"192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1rBozZO4U
"She's well. At home, looking after the other boy."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUnggNrmPy
Victorino frowned, thoughtful.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlnlGtOMvj
"That boy... what was his name?"192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJNV3cuiBX
"That is the second time you've asked."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2P8klTZnjo
"I know," Victorino said with a slight grimace. "I'll remember it this time."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdI8bSPJHEr
"Luis. Like my grandfather."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbMmXClcB1
"A fine name."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYFsbOelir
Fausto observed him for a moment before changing the subject.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHWWvlRKZp
"And you? How goes it?"192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7fbO2xIuz
Victorino leaned back against the bench.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0tPJthWoT
"Fine... all things considered. Rivas continues to be a headache. Harrington, a constant nuisance, but manageable."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FvFsqmBt2
"Rivas doesn't forget," Fausto said. "And neither do I."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYyCJtkLwy
"He wasn't ready," Victorino admitted. "I see it clearly now. He's already started moving, preparing something. Touring the country, meeting with people... seven years early."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwH6Ar2Ngx
"Who knows," said Fausto. "Maybe he'll be president."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6KvPngI7O
"Please, no."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuyOswtgGz
Fausto let out a brief laugh.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIwWpZUYYt
"I met with him. And yes, he has that idea. He asked for my support."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJ9qZ56cpl
Victorino turned his head.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1oKUajt9b
"And did you give it to him?"192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhE3LfvWN2N
"No. I told him I wasn't coming back."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOxamr7asK
"A pity," muttered Victorino. "I had a place in mind for you."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCm6DERTRPz
Fausto shook his head, still smiling.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3F0853yI2I
"Thanks, Erick. But no. Now I am simply a father, happily married."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIR7LkBKTi
"Say that in thirty years," Victorino retorted. "We shall see."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyHA5mD31A
"Come on, don't be a curmudgeon."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzbJ9F9rXK
"Just saying."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLClYnA1Bu2
Victorino pulled a pipe from his coat pocket and lit it calmly.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMZZ28t7Vr
"Want some?"192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWJTXj7Cfk
"No," Fausto replied. "I still have trauma from that."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsARk1IRtdF
"Fragile."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrojaegbkO
Victorino inhaled the smoke and let it out slowly.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ngEcqWkaY
"I needed that."
"It shows."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezTmfBatj0
They fell silent. They watched the park: children running, life following its course without speeches or decrees. For a few seconds, neither was president nor ex-president. Just two men watching time pass.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoa641Kn91
"Fausto," Victorino said at last.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZ13696mPv
"Tell me."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALF7waAZsn
"I always wondered. What did you feel when you became president... at that age?"192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDi2uyuylBD
Fausto smiled, without taking his eyes off his daughter.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovP2BZqed1
"Fear," he replied. "But also... hope."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdwg0xCldp
"I see."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCib0jYc7Sg
Fausto looked at him then.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnwYZQhJ2q
"And you? What did you feel?"192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAFvS8XZh4
Victorino took a moment to answer.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3pq2tlAuo
"Happiness. I had achieved it. After fighting so much... I made it."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7TtB63FnP
"Now I have a question."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uuBFlsX0j
"Ask it," said Victorino, between puffs of smoke.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLEteGulgI
"Why did you leave politics after Karen won?"192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifRdynItfa
Victorino fell silent. The smoke dissipated before he spoke.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQzopzphaq
"For two reasons. The first: there was nothing else to do. I wasn't running for anything and I needed to rest. The second... I wanted to see what you would do."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqY035HKhG1
"That simple?"192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYB0VDj3Hk
"Could be."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH391HpRzLZ
Fausto looked at him with suspicion.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEr8cfNSm0
"Come on, tell me the real one."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGKLpyu9Q7
Victorino observed him calmly.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRzS1B2Idv
"Both are true. If you don't believe me... that's your problem."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBCE06Q2Cv
And he looked back at the park, as if the only answer that really mattered was there.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxigBAl0k4N
Fausto looked up at the sky, pale and serene.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPB5LdAc2SJ
"Truthfully... I liked what we built."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcmLIOb2SV
Victorino nodded slowly.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64xbnr2QE2
"And rightly so. You are a living legend, Fausto. The first president of the Seven Republics. If this endures—and I hope it does, for at least two hundred years—you will be in the history books. The danger, the infected, all that no longer defines us. Now, it is us."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpl7XM23YO
Fausto smiled, though there was something more than pride in his expression.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9zfloDMYi
"It's sad to think that it's all going to end someday."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLB2vj5TeCF
"That is life," Victorino replied. "One day flesh, and the next, mere bones. In the end, we are nothing more than names carved in stone... or words worn down by time. But don't worry: this doesn't end today, nor tomorrow, nor the day after. Not in days, nor months, not even in the next ten years. It will last as long as it has to last."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBW9sL3AJs
Fausto remained silent for an instant.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1eo8JHp0n
"I just hope that, when it ends, they change it for something better."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVTLtdtLOO
Victorino let out a slight exhale.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXxacnTN1N
"Yes... that would be good."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPW6KhJt9a
Fausto closed his eyes, as if wanting to fix that moment in his memory.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfagpR2wd0j
"I must go. I have to get back home."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmB2J1a6xB
"And I as well," said Victorino. "I still have much to sign."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3ipgMtcsp
Fausto called his daughter. The girl ran to him, hugged him tightly, and before leaving, raised her hand to wave at Victorino. He returned the gesture with a discreet smile.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCK4s2K1wv
As he was about to leave, his daughter's hand interlaced with his, Fausto stopped and looked at Victorino, who remained seated.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpLd2Eu2Tq
"So... did we do the right thing?"192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8k0wP2hex
Victorino looked him in the eye.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSztqlBY4PH
"We did what we could. And that is the only thing that can be asked of someone who writes something others will read for generations."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDurtJlg9KF
Fausto smiled.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYhZ2i06g8
"I suppose that is sufficient."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IWBSiEFFv
"It has to be," Victorino replied. "A nation is built like a phrase is written: with a pen that might tremble and ink that cannot be fully erased. Every word weighs. Every action stains the page. Because after us, someone else will take the pen. And hopefully, they remember the ink isn't theirs... it belongs to everyone."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDr9d5dbIF
Fausto sat back down and extended his hand.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzmRuJNqs0
Victorino smiled and accepted the handshake, firm and brief.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcklVaWNex3
"Thank you."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZsG7406MV
"There is nothing to thank, Fausto."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0spbBpsMyI
"No," he insisted. "Truly, thank you."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkNU2DINoa
Victorino opened his mouth to respond, but Fausto interrupted him with a slight, tired smile.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YC8mz8tQn
"Anyway... I would like to stay longer, but I have to return. See you, Erick."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbugL18Kp9X
And just as he had arrived, he left, taking his daughter by the hand. The girl looked back one last time before walking on.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9F54R2Tlm
Victorino watched them move away and let out a sigh.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFvBciorMs
"He is still a boy," he murmured, with a trace of mockery that hid affection.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ389eBuXQQw
He remained seated for a few more seconds, his gaze following that figure becoming smaller and smaller. When he finally lost sight of them, he leaned back on the bench and looked at the sky, immense and silent.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Jn555om58
After a moment, he spoke in a low voice, as if the plaza were still listening to him:192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGM0pcOLtaP
"A nation is not sustained by eternal men, but by decisions that withstand time. We didn't build a perfect country; we built a possible one. And that, sometimes, is enough."192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgl5t5hBlXt
Then he stood up and walked back, leaving behind the empty bench, in that park, in that city of the Seven Republics.192Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqOkSGrTbw
and then Add to home screen.