There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2GFHxX1ty
The falling asleep.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlg6kR17Sfl
The last breath.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPx3wTbsOH5
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsraILbDy34
The guests speak of it often.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHEbW1DJEF
Sometimes with fear.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjva2xgpIKW
Sometimes with relief.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5A2F0sGlkW
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCXT4dEzFY
The crueler one.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hdcZHfg9H
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumGODzbL2W
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGd17XISWJN
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39uVXA0bL4
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Q2Mb8TKrL
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaIcfiBnCY
The broken sentences.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdT1GaSHJcT
The last words muttered into mugs.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSgyJp9ipR
The laughter that no one else witnessed.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFnrYFgIwY
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQWObNT4cM
they are not gone.
They may fall.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVotXJpNJYL
They may pass.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGOB0F1MO0
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYZd8xOaU4
Not while the fire burns.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqT5foVyjT4
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7s4MomzSrC
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uExb8iJGt
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
