There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkqCZOJI0j
The falling asleep.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4bgeYtavw
The last breath.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ652eo6pYqt
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB12knjI8DD
The guests speak of it often.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dWj2WP65u
Sometimes with fear.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rRQDmTC5Q
Sometimes with relief.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2zWas7OA3
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKdQA92ZM4
The crueler one.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tdeCaAhEh
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NdXU5A8CN
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWYTKwdhqN
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArM80g8M0w
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBgXGFHBo0
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvz7wnK4fwq
The broken sentences.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTKF5ndUi4
The last words muttered into mugs.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYcWZb4V7a
The laughter that no one else witnessed.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevblMxQqnN
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiULo7yL3p
they are not gone.
They may fall.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoCBtzZr9T
They may pass.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4dkDIhA2Q
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeZ9DcXqfn
Not while the fire burns.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpx91sT2D5q
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3iTouM2le
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV5IEZICai
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
