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.
