They came in quietly, like many do... dust on their cloak, dusk in their eyes.
But they didn’t speak right away.
They warmed their hands by the fire.44Please respect copyright.PENANAXfx9BQh7Xs
Touched the mug I had already placed before them.44Please respect copyright.PENANAJr3UKVmuNL
Looked at me not to ask, but to listen.
They told their story slowly, in pieces, like someone offering stones to a river.44Please respect copyright.PENANAiSym4RwBSr
Not to be kept.44Please respect copyright.PENANAgT9mjQvKX3
Just to hear how the water moves around them.
And when they finished… they stayed.
Long after the drink was done.44Please respect copyright.PENANAyVxx9LbwXc
Long after the fire had burned low.
They did not ask for more.44Please respect copyright.PENANAn7cSynujVC
They simply looked at the ledger and whispered:
“Where do the stories go, once they’re written?”
I answered for the first time in years:
“They become the tavern.”
And then, I did what I had never done.
I turned the ledger toward them.
Offered a quill.
They hesitated. Not out of fear.44Please respect copyright.PENANAzQ197mk9xA
But reverence.
And then they wrote:
I Was Orion's Missing Shoulder
They closed the ledger with both hands.44Please respect copyright.PENANAHwpL27Msag
Pressed their forehead to it.
Then left.
I did not ask their name.44Please respect copyright.PENANAy5fU5bMGEw
They did not offer it.
But the tavern knew it.44Please respect copyright.PENANA2LKD5QVSev
And now, so does this page.