There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—12Please respect copyright.PENANARerg0u8ivy
The falling asleep.12Please respect copyright.PENANACE8FPRxAev
The last breath.12Please respect copyright.PENANAP4DAGQEX1L
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.12Please respect copyright.PENANAjcIHb0CnXe
The guests speak of it often.12Please respect copyright.PENANARVKKbUiFiX
Sometimes with fear.12Please respect copyright.PENANADCvRXsGGZt
Sometimes with relief.12Please respect copyright.PENANA6EVUSi7ep1
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.12Please respect copyright.PENANAJA1JDCsFnz
The crueler one.12Please respect copyright.PENANAB7z9RO4f5r
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.12Please respect copyright.PENANAjAWsVvE9fH
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.12Please respect copyright.PENANAQzVksUmHr1
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.12Please respect copyright.PENANAy3nprSF2PE
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.12Please respect copyright.PENANAqVoLdylKJ2
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.12Please respect copyright.PENANAmNpvjcP5jW
The broken sentences.12Please respect copyright.PENANAXjMjh0fYNS
The last words muttered into mugs.12Please respect copyright.PENANAkR7TXvseeX
The laughter that no one else witnessed.12Please respect copyright.PENANA3iVT2MekHo
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—12Please respect copyright.PENANAfEYzirzdrV
they are not gone.
They may fall.12Please respect copyright.PENANAXxRjbyJLPH
They may pass.12Please respect copyright.PENANAufN5hwYeGX
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.12Please respect copyright.PENANAAq4PSLxILo
Not while the fire burns.12Please respect copyright.PENANAsyvhxJRZ4p
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.12Please respect copyright.PENANAeBEDdC3fXO
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,12Please respect copyright.PENANAaIKR8Iz9SH
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.