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I grab Silver’s hand, walk to the podium, and take in the brightness of my future next to the woman who will walk with me in the halls of the White House. Because, next to someone like Silver, anything is possible.

Fifteen years later

“So, they’re kicking us out, huh?” I grab Raphael’s hand and lean against his shoulder.

“It looks like it, yes,” he chuckles.

“After all you did for this country. They’re just kicking us out.”

“That’s kind of how it works. After the end of the second term, they change tenants in the White House.”

Senator, and two terms as president of the United States. It’s been quite an adventure.

“What do we do now?” I can’t hide the sadness in my voice.

“We keep saving the world, just in a different way.” He kisses my head as we stare at the massive white building in front of us.

“We could enjoy our family. Go on vacations without worrying about avoiding a war,” I suggest.

“That would be lovely. Do you think you can stay away from your organization for a while?”

“I think we have built a solid foundation for that. I can take a couple weeks’ vacation.”

“A couple weeks? How generous!” he teases.

“Areyouable to step away from politics?”

He shrugs. “Probably not, but for the first month, we should be safe.”

“Good. Are you still planning to save the world?”

He kisses my head. “Of course.”

“So, we really have to go now.” I turn toward him and peck him on the lips.

“Yes, the car is waiting.”

“Alba, Christopher, go fetch Jupiter, he’s barking at the photographers again.”

I watch my kids run toward the fence that separates the White House grounds from the street. Raphael tugs my hand and we turn around, turning our backs on the most famous house in the world that was our home for eight years, and walk away.

When I met Raphael, I was afraid of the world and running from myself. Fifteen years later, that fear never completely disappeared. I’m afraid about what the world could become, but I’ve learned to use that fear to change things, not for me alone, but for my husband, for my children, and for the future generations that will receive this world from us.

We promised to change the world, and we won’t fail to deliver on those promises.

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