There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMZOMiEUFF
The falling asleep.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVpdRxu4JK
The last breath.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDA4PN9Rahn
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9o1ZS8ziV
The guests speak of it often.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Hecw9NODk
Sometimes with fear.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoizuhh8hSR
Sometimes with relief.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLB0TcQEe5y
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOShS6NYjZ3
The crueler one.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM84wHRxaQ4
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTExa9Xs47
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBevY0oJkYh
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSElBT1kXZc
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3CombX0xU
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAZplMVNuz
The broken sentences.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVSIbq9tVT
The last words muttered into mugs.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHiQ4GEggp
The laughter that no one else witnessed.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9H1w8kvBd
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6RfdgIxCN
they are not gone.
They may fall.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vbxiCmxo4
They may pass.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPQj4uioPS
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTtGCNPbHN
Not while the fire burns.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpMwJKclPy
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIyh7eR18m
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3Hm9KAy4w
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
