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.
