There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6q0mpbVpO
The falling asleep.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9fAeYPjLj
The last breath.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJkFyoARzv
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZCDnXAORt
The guests speak of it often.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1kBFBB1Cq
Sometimes with fear.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqwVu3tpAr
Sometimes with relief.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubKIIe7lyV
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oen6OBU5T
The crueler one.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfANHLRsuBX
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ikGgWwdRS
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6lSg7mOFn
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that, That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1b2JbQQFVz
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLJbit4rXV
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDIx9dyb04
The broken sentences.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1ihr5NuWw
The last words muttered into mugs.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XZkZTRglI
The laughter that no one else witnessed.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfAcmuRcsJ
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.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2H9SwoXJBN
They may pass.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQ6U9zKZEx
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPxBKi3g8m
Not while the fire burns.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3qJ97aWtu
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5xC6KXPLu
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5LptrLpqV
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
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