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.