There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHrOHx76f6
The falling asleep.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavbh7EDmHm
The last breath.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSJdpPQJUT
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQyiWk6lrk
The guests speak of it often.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzhm9VzluL
Sometimes with fear.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7epHx4bby
Sometimes with relief.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJ64sTE6vV
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjpLDQN9hX
The crueler one.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9fcbvWOsL
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOK57dlXKbM
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiheZcJmpa
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61g2WKAHAA
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mXrYJkhgN
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3DI6w25ng
The broken sentences.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yveOQaDS6
The last words muttered into mugs.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOJFsbQC5j
The laughter that no one else witnessed.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QnQ6ECvlL
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHm1NQtIU5
they are not gone.
They may fall.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfpwsP8WuK
They may pass.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpJaRir0uJ
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWjyW7QPrf
Not while the fire burns.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwzXA1DF4Z
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnooyd6PKs2
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcX7EJ8MLA
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
