There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7vn8uEHTt
The falling asleep.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqkqWYkwiI
The last breath.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mmAoLmrR4
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZriHopiCqm
The guests speak of it often.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySUccGroHr
Sometimes with fear.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKQd4q32og
Sometimes with relief.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyLuOo6owO
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIHnPNrf3E
The crueler one.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqT88agFXHs
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeo0IiFGygh
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIrNALs8qI
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that, That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcZQFdxH3H
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ziiMAAzyX
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXclgFTqPX3
The broken sentences.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQFChYdoYS
The last words muttered into mugs.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8ziZQSzxD
The laughter that no one else witnessed.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTey5OWvgPl
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.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeL56k6cPwy
They may pass.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVv8V7380kb
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pD2qYajrn
Not while the fire burns.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRICCakVcTk
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvw4v47YnP
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0ltyMygrV
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
ns216.73.216.2da2
