There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPYJbOPMNr
The falling asleep.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNbyojHxlP
The last breath.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgSMZ6rKi2
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjpyY9YNmB
The guests speak of it often.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldMlKIKEDP
Sometimes with fear.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxpfWkgOIp
Sometimes with relief.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61HGnEnMty
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDqqKvQ28g
The crueler one.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUabuwXH2w
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSw2WWHQOAC
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2Sl2OIyAG
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that, That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxH45522oD
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwq5PK8Fvlx
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLnAtmmObh
The broken sentences.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDlMG3AK1a
The last words muttered into mugs.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PX9XGtmvm
The laughter that no one else witnessed.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuyNF4ECg1
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them, they are not gone.
They may fall.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52ZOAGMxjC
They may pass.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewBMq7AgNd
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlg7Y7pr9Os
Not while the fire burns.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCNP2lgjAF
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JFuJGXcl8
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4xuyPItNP
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
ns216.73.216.82da2
