There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRUnHjOVAr
The falling asleep.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUDOg8Cmx3
The last breath.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ei6ZSuti8
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIC9GK6Rxn1
The guests speak of it often.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfU9efpUGeB
Sometimes with fear.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4Q0WAzkKG
Sometimes with relief.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0WYQuhhUx
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTC1gjYMez
The crueler one.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIY9aQbiFPw
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Z4u71Cwv7
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BC29Q0VTm
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeD63bn3Hb
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynb3xnIQxh
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRnOrMXYeB
The broken sentences.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6WdJdgeJM
The last words muttered into mugs.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJrOO7aHR5
The laughter that no one else witnessed.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtABQPNrVQf
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKn3mgPfmH
they are not gone.
They may fall.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73a4jNeZf1
They may pass.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZAhlfjeFQ
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkLZ6YhWrz
Not while the fire burns.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbHmJMRnuB
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dUjp1fdhz
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73M8eTH1VS
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
