There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLfTeJuyLn
The falling asleep.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYU7GPEDXn
The last breath.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCMQxzWJfF
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsCqBJIOYg
The guests speak of it often.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLha8CmF13Y
Sometimes with fear.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6seLfJEr1g
Sometimes with relief.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqdB3wH2Et
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ602iCRVyWs
The crueler one.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2NeuNhgR1
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiVpjlpWDa
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0R8Gxqoel
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQlJHJfBNA
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqd3HVljU2
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29HsTZgVjn
The broken sentences.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcyG2k59km
The last words muttered into mugs.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5D8dx2LjKD
The laughter that no one else witnessed.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1QwAUvj33
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqp7aeizcsa
they are not gone.
They may fall.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EW0oA45Ey
They may pass.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKNZC1R72S
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAwzCN1gbX
Not while the fire burns.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSq9eLSPlgt
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrNo7vtHDY
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOz5xxGXd7w
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
