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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gUK0FQsqU
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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDyV96y31l
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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFycHv8cY0
The tranquility didn't last long.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQm7jOqkoGF
"Good afternoon, sir."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUUUsO77ki
Victorino did not open his eyes.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESlNml75ol
"Fausto," he said simply.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7vxYG5HBz
"In the flesh."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MRxl4Jf51
Victorino offered a faint smile, a tired gesture that fell short of joy.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8F22x6L8Z
"Here again?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmNQBdHsGz
Fausto shrugged.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3ZEkEqa0v
"I came with my daughter. Didn't think I'd find you here."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SND3hbopZ
Victorino opened his eyes and looked toward the sandbox, where a little girl played with deep concentration, oblivious to everything.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UEkbkIxH5
"Ah... I see."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSZHGKmEG1
"Isn't she beautiful?" said Fausto, with a pride he made no attempt to hide.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4CyLil0MK
"Yes, she is," Victorino replied. "And your wife?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5n1zIN7NC
"She's well. At home, looking after the other boy."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLA4RiJjTuh
Victorino frowned, thoughtful.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUElja5AJl
"That boy... what was his name?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6tbwl3Hr7
"That is the second time you've asked."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfkuJ62KMa
"I know," Victorino said with a slight grimace. "I'll remember it this time."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpcM9SxQZ4
"Luis. Like my grandfather."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqnJ44lvOA
"A fine name."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTxwuKw0Tr
Fausto observed him for a moment before changing the subject.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9ZBrD8Der
"And you? How goes it?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9cE1uAr8J
Victorino leaned back against the bench.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzeIsDT4GM
"Fine... all things considered. Rivas continues to be a headache. Harrington, a constant nuisance, but manageable."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Rhocb9gPF
"Rivas doesn't forget," Fausto said. "And neither do I."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNhcXov1CI
"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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡua8DqMY2aP
"Who knows," said Fausto. "Maybe he'll be president."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYJtvlBIM0
"Please, no."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAOuHWMN5o
Fausto let out a brief laugh.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UfOixFMEZ
"I met with him. And yes, he has that idea. He asked for my support."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncgAc4r16v
Victorino turned his head.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1LLnel0SF
"And did you give it to him?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9j9FPV4bGT
"No. I told him I wasn't coming back."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FSkM9brqC
"A pity," muttered Victorino. "I had a place in mind for you."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgo2OuuoLS
Fausto shook his head, still smiling.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7eQ1PXfvY
"Thanks, Erick. But no. Now I am simply a father, happily married."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQmdG8XFvK
"Say that in thirty years," Victorino retorted. "We shall see."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUWRdDU8Sq
"Come on, don't be a curmudgeon."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5meK6SL42
"Just saying."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdt6CyFOyaS
Victorino pulled a pipe from his coat pocket and lit it calmly.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3aThH7mAG
"Want some?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDMUPQoOmL
"No," Fausto replied. "I still have trauma from that."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSGybXpAeo
"Fragile."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52r181wQNS
Victorino inhaled the smoke and let it out slowly.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnYerqpK4l
"I needed that."
"It shows."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYYDStprY8
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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziCWpr5oss
"Fausto," Victorino said at last.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvW1uTSUvEy
"Tell me."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetlGoKuxDI
"I always wondered. What did you feel when you became president... at that age?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQUotrzxVC
Fausto smiled, without taking his eyes off his daughter.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowH1YVYCvH
"Fear," he replied. "But also... hope."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibHBHyKeiz
"I see."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtSL0teAFp
Fausto looked at him then.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOQqmAhcaj
"And you? What did you feel?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyUKd42Rlc
Victorino took a moment to answer.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYni6kiRtV
"Happiness. I had achieved it. After fighting so much... I made it."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeRiezWuaw
"Now I have a question."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8unUpR94aH
"Ask it," said Victorino, between puffs of smoke.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d3VGw5Siy
"Why did you leave politics after Karen won?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ij2xniTjk
Victorino fell silent. The smoke dissipated before he spoke.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwagOn16yC9
"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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphJ7hlpKC5
"That simple?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYD2ExiFM9n
"Could be."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AcfKEKmtf
Fausto looked at him with suspicion.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuWb4FXgSf
"Come on, tell me the real one."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzaoGnnYVx
Victorino observed him calmly.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jvR80caH0
"Both are true. If you don't believe me... that's your problem."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVp6zxt6Cu
And he looked back at the park, as if the only answer that really mattered was there.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbzKLCR8za
Fausto looked up at the sky, pale and serene.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpv5451fdD
"Truthfully... I liked what we built."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJknShxAWle
Victorino nodded slowly.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4Vgl5svZn
"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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEb6GFCiGtH
Fausto smiled, though there was something more than pride in his expression.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8Tz4O8KQD
"It's sad to think that it's all going to end someday."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFop0yChax
"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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKL3l0pJPxA
Fausto remained silent for an instant.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpYX7rwGMR
"I just hope that, when it ends, they change it for something better."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbNJAmTXTg
Victorino let out a slight exhale.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXV9gP9emB
"Yes... that would be good."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJSelMkeDa
Fausto closed his eyes, as if wanting to fix that moment in his memory.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMzYH0MzFn
"I must go. I have to get back home."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmApeTMC9RP
"And I as well," said Victorino. "I still have much to sign."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59dnEgdOa5
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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSVIOApBuL
As he was about to leave, his daughter's hand interlaced with his, Fausto stopped and looked at Victorino, who remained seated.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMODNeRRDIQ
"So... did we do the right thing?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGzh3NI817
Victorino looked him in the eye.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNHI7drfJH
"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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquYxeiyFtt
Fausto smiled.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4CfVoH3Su
"I suppose that is sufficient."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Qa80Cd715
"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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSW1kCeNXK
Fausto sat back down and extended his hand.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96LEBWdGuZ
Victorino smiled and accepted the handshake, firm and brief.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtoZhBy9fA
"Thank you."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhKrGeBpws
"There is nothing to thank, Fausto."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRlqeFVMYT
"No," he insisted. "Truly, thank you."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXASzmScwe2
Victorino opened his mouth to respond, but Fausto interrupted him with a slight, tired smile.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERotOJTpPE
"Anyway... I would like to stay longer, but I have to return. See you, Erick."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6jT0HMm2h
And just as he had arrived, he left, taking his daughter by the hand. The girl looked back one last time before walking on.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4wBNmO0Lw
Victorino watched them move away and let out a sigh.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1MTS9Vk6H
"He is still a boy," he murmured, with a trace of mockery that hid affection.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PneJzPdQv
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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSf7qTqE1rF
After a moment, he spoke in a low voice, as if the plaza were still listening to him:141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkLPF5Arcy
"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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFe74VdKPNp
Then he stood up and walked back, leaving behind the empty bench, in that park, in that city of the Seven Republics.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbF4fFJpQyg
and then Add to home screen.