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.
