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.