There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—24Please respect copyright.PENANAYTtGUZrF0q
The falling asleep.24Please respect copyright.PENANAlEqKOWwwas
The last breath.24Please respect copyright.PENANApNlXm0AMYN
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.24Please respect copyright.PENANA5Hcqje6dkd
The guests speak of it often.24Please respect copyright.PENANAowkwQ1o91Z
Sometimes with fear.24Please respect copyright.PENANAAkAHOeakYT
Sometimes with relief.24Please respect copyright.PENANAwpK1aJ4R0n
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.24Please respect copyright.PENANAwcJqwAqbYu
The crueler one.24Please respect copyright.PENANAiYUXIXeoam
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.24Please respect copyright.PENANAP8K9iQWl1w
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.24Please respect copyright.PENANAJPy2SqraxL
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.24Please respect copyright.PENANANgsnt91lsB
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.24Please respect copyright.PENANAWBrnZzmqmR
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.24Please respect copyright.PENANAZrnbInrlAH
The broken sentences.24Please respect copyright.PENANA8MfYBkkDH4
The last words muttered into mugs.24Please respect copyright.PENANAeGE0ZkeGkU
The laughter that no one else witnessed.24Please respect copyright.PENANA1Rsicqh5vz
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—24Please respect copyright.PENANAxChWdlGEen
they are not gone.
They may fall.24Please respect copyright.PENANAdcqknZC70x
They may pass.24Please respect copyright.PENANAv709jMXTlM
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.24Please respect copyright.PENANAYyczlEMLKU
Not while the fire burns.24Please respect copyright.PENANA9FkIJTBhEo
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.24Please respect copyright.PENANAcribTK1SjV
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,24Please respect copyright.PENANA2ryetG05S8
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.