There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyPe6JVhNA
The falling asleep.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEblXwwWRXH
The last breath.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqS5EjwN3x
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrEiCrqnJO
The guests speak of it often.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ADw5aZqMr
Sometimes with fear.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbu3aUyHb7l
Sometimes with relief.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS84OkGStTm
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIg8rnVqtR
The crueler one.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZSdJxbjgl
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAO1CjNuEht
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlqfZ95PR7
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that, That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVVnsdGyFD
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiK7eggyNx
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEdIM5QePL
The broken sentences.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qxZU3ruGo
The last words muttered into mugs.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AsrAXmU1M
The laughter that no one else witnessed.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEKZQ6GZZU
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them, they are not gone.
They may fall.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mrSxW0kP2
They may pass.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ687iN4znFS
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18NcQBQkKS
Not while the fire burns.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEfwRorH2c
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbotCHBgM5y
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6V23jXQBFl
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
ns216.73.216.96da2
