There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPFop04l78
The falling asleep.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2z5yNonk9
The last breath.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsl3dgdEK3w
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyFhHWa3w0
The guests speak of it often.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbKpqpwlMY
Sometimes with fear.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLNQyvdOep
Sometimes with relief.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9bVY7SEac
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FVAoEgB1w
The crueler one.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDN38I1Wd9
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFhG3w9fCa
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysvSq6FlSO
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqU6VYBQst
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhGbuyWUFU
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4pCfLCGg0
The broken sentences.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNuWAteZdx
The last words muttered into mugs.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfkPcpq6MI
The laughter that no one else witnessed.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UONjodjLw
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJasaCfrOk
they are not gone.
They may fall.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5gQWooIhW
They may pass.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡairDE0fSib
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfmw9260Hp
Not while the fire burns.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpwq8AZH0F
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9gTp7QHGQ
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUjYiuJf8A
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
