Letting go wasn't easy.
Glad had led for years—through battles, crises, triumphs. The community had grown around her, dependent on her presence, her decisions, her vision.
But growth meant change.
"You need to step back," Kim said gently. "Not disappear. Just... let others lead."
"I know. It's just hard."
"Letting go always is."
They worked out a transition plan. Glad would remain on the council, but as advisor, not leader. Maya would take over foundation operations. Luningning would handle international relations. Ariel—Ariel would just be her partner, supporting without directing.
"A strange role," he admitted. "Not being in charge."
"We were never in charge. We just thought we were."
"Deep."
"Shut up."
But the transition worked. Slowly, the community adapted to less Glad-centric operations. New leaders emerged. New ideas flourished.
And Glad found herself with something she hadn't had in years: time.
Time to fly without purpose. Time to sit in gardens. Time to be, not just do.
"This is weird," she told Ariel during one such flight. "Not having somewhere to be."
"Weird good?"
"Weird different. We'll see."
Different turned out to be good.
Different turned out to be rest.
Different turned out to be exactly what she needed.