There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseDZ9J7GXh
The falling asleep.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5OXeRrCiq
The last breath.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIdvChZ5Zi
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4qt8RhdIH
The guests speak of it often.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuwnO2FmUL
Sometimes with fear.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttKPkrVAJy
Sometimes with relief.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaruUDGkS9
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡke33DvbL2m
The crueler one.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XisILAbxs
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXYcjPsRvU
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdo2o3M3ewd
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4v6JuZcAR
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyE9w4DZiL0
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlpFs1lfre
The broken sentences.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf396S8oGlT
The last words muttered into mugs.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QTdzTD3td
The laughter that no one else witnessed.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmVmflVWgN
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZRmD6i7M1
they are not gone.
They may fall.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaejhs4cYj
They may pass.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyosU0G5hNp
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNEtcLluvG
Not while the fire burns.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOjkfHZPMt
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdhGFVZdgk
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkusfTcUEt2
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
