There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5swAS9jpSk
The falling asleep.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFdn2Q4s58
The last breath.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt01GBG8o5m
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVnaSqaofa
The guests speak of it often.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCalW0z8Otb
Sometimes with fear.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bmaP6GnR0
Sometimes with relief.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4bYXZN5D1
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAM1HZhP8A
The crueler one.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXZ6DqQ9kn
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZmJKDTlHm
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2XjLajUwh
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that, That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjfHQf7zaX
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhA8gI24d3M
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEtRYyGvrY
The broken sentences.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fvRMzZRab
The last words muttered into mugs.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38obevm388
The laughter that no one else witnessed.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQJn944649
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.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMT55tk4YRx
They may pass.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6VPLKVOfS
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCnI1IyiMa
Not while the fire burns.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfxMXWWbS6
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv74p6nxyPh
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4SyZizVH3
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
ns216.73.216.238da2
