There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9FjnvWDJp
The falling asleep.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0JlqGXplM
The last breath.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KFZpFsqK5
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlFati1SUP
The guests speak of it often.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6WK2B1S6o
Sometimes with fear.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7wHRI6vZr
Sometimes with relief.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQ3Ogtn7ad
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2nWSyrUE3
The crueler one.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5WlCNnW4s
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHgZFnDhD9
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeNJN1Fwbw
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that, That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzRepM5BOz
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDnEVOAqKF
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPks0ygHUG
The broken sentences.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUS85FGJLZG
The last words muttered into mugs.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoForlsvnX
The laughter that no one else witnessed.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcFkhzEMDy
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.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKk1nRgm9c
They may pass.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXbhCXH3Yl
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYBHeHxMKg
Not while the fire burns.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIsnKbQ7Wx
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLa5BV3y0K
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03C9o01chy
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
ns216.73.216.81da2
