Week 1,040. Five years after Maya Chen stepped down as coordinator.Jessica Hart stood in Hope's Garden, looking at stones that now numbered one hundred and twelve. Fifteen added during her term. Natural deaths, mostly. Age finally claiming those who'd survived the freeze and everything after.The newest stone bore an unfamiliar inscription: "Democracy tested. Democracy survived. Democracy continues."She'd added it yesterday. Five-year anniversary of her election. Commemoration not of her leadership but of the transition itself. The moment democracy proved it could survive its founder.It hadn't been easy. The first year, everyone compared her to Maya. Found her wanting. Resented the differences. Questioned every decision. When she'd compromised on the agricultural reform bill, they'd asked what Maya would have done. When she'd delayed responding to the border dispute with the European coalition, they'd wondered if Maya would have been decisive. When she'd restructured the council co
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