There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNv65Rf29B
The falling asleep.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzNc2n7UGP
The last breath.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlKLxGdFfb
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKMhHcJOyn
The guests speak of it often.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuxo2j3NMa
Sometimes with fear.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauHH0UoM7w
Sometimes with relief.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡox7f06SLzB
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYTMVFspBC
The crueler one.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6G2QedVON
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtKzqB7x8A
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZuC2RMR9i
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that, That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgUin2v07y
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVWGXfPInq
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SXmlHRays
The broken sentences.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrlqdeA2ig
The last words muttered into mugs.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQFnAv7Ct5
The laughter that no one else witnessed.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgHfzBil7O
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them, they are not gone.
They may fall.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEk9Oq5Jdt
They may pass.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkjM5sHuvs
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IZHjK5wuD
Not while the fire burns.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKCLEPlVDu
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0xXaGh89t
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10csSX3rTj
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
ns216.73.216.213da2
