There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSy8nvucHEU
The falling asleep.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzqMNYgbwm
The last breath.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxd3LYk8BM
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWfOTl0aBn
The guests speak of it often.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqOzisHEFw
Sometimes with fear.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdvhGlgKfe
Sometimes with relief.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwRrenwmbn
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxPgHeY2UF
The crueler one.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqvGJA98NY
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMkrP6CGLG
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeXUMUUYKk
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23FrsDkBGJ
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHpRrrxIUr
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3L5XLXZcB
The broken sentences.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzsVY3diva
The last words muttered into mugs.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2riNnQjay
The laughter that no one else witnessed.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNuWsULWqc
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHyEF8ZalM
they are not gone.
They may fall.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNxFoNWGbQ
They may pass.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8zrMritoL
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzLEfiX2N7
Not while the fire burns.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3EArUO42I
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaNZaSLNi2
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkt0VdZCgW
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
