There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLquWApj3v
The falling asleep.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrj2n5TWwk
The last breath.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPRTxlcegZ
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwBa19xjAK
The guests speak of it often.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn84na2SLK5
Sometimes with fear.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCHEWZ8RuU
Sometimes with relief.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsuOBpzR2O
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Xudf295j5
The crueler one.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsW3ItVGMY
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlxHLYvWxp
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLQ5mPblnW
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIxEZG2W3V
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtfMKG2sEq
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XCWh7VvUm
The broken sentences.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ363w2cbofA
The last words muttered into mugs.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYE5mrjVbDN
The laughter that no one else witnessed.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUsElqZucc
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD5YyC6KUL
they are not gone.
They may fall.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTUgDRxXdR
They may pass.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZs4SypmGa9
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1P2EWfDtz6
Not while the fire burns.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsZvNmlltK
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2smvyLCls
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgbpm59QDR
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
