There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKFOy41Ypw
The falling asleep.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQF6gd1tno
The last breath.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0D8GsZjBB
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYSxB58Cus
The guests speak of it often.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUA9CYFlhbX
Sometimes with fear.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRvWiiWmZY
Sometimes with relief.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMvr8RUF0f
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkvwy4gdSr
The crueler one.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCd9Ja1YQTk
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Xn4sZW20P
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLu98pd55I
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfIJGbYn1n
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04BPePgqLy
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw10HSA0RFT
The broken sentences.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTvqbBtRQT
The last words muttered into mugs.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XWxSIIn8N
The laughter that no one else witnessed.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4URj5s25Q2
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjcczCKpqU
they are not gone.
They may fall.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMiZfhZhHF
They may pass.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwem5F3pgJh
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD06whq3SH1
Not while the fire burns.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXAQLErIhN
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqw5zqxGe0i
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1CfrQI5Iy
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
