There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—84Please respect copyright.PENANA79JnsSPrX6
The falling asleep.84Please respect copyright.PENANAIYezxxugrq
The last breath.84Please respect copyright.PENANAb2n8TgxRmz
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.84Please respect copyright.PENANApf4Ua0L3lW
The guests speak of it often.84Please respect copyright.PENANAaKw5jIdmtU
Sometimes with fear.84Please respect copyright.PENANAfF5ggSMoY3
Sometimes with relief.84Please respect copyright.PENANAf7D8VjJwum
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.84Please respect copyright.PENANAKXZrPMZ3wx
The crueler one.84Please respect copyright.PENANAcfPRN6vgWd
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.84Please respect copyright.PENANAf8YOBNzHLx
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.84Please respect copyright.PENANAybqhFISL4q
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.84Please respect copyright.PENANA0tP4zdCRy6
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.84Please respect copyright.PENANAemGBAKl9IV
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.84Please respect copyright.PENANAGPfgd6Pfbw
The broken sentences.84Please respect copyright.PENANAp0gEopZlo0
The last words muttered into mugs.84Please respect copyright.PENANACiHMq7lvOV
The laughter that no one else witnessed.84Please respect copyright.PENANARcGhHDyOPa
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—84Please respect copyright.PENANAuLLeUURPaK
they are not gone.
They may fall.84Please respect copyright.PENANAxuG9LWA8cw
They may pass.84Please respect copyright.PENANA7MPureyson
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.84Please respect copyright.PENANASfL8gcY6YH
Not while the fire burns.84Please respect copyright.PENANAnv65LGcziK
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.84Please respect copyright.PENANAOT7R9gMrEJ
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,84Please respect copyright.PENANAcrvF0CdUD3
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.