There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57Y6RsoK7j
The falling asleep.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUysrY43Xg5
The last breath.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUiws5Bvup
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3OuikAVEZ
The guests speak of it often.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XKEmgEVuI
Sometimes with fear.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EcsOkGwRR
Sometimes with relief.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IOtYjfaBR
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbze1nXidL
The crueler one.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJITUJbZl1c
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstsxUpStKa
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqVZ5P8J3y
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerfSK7gG9Y
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauLpbte8pk
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDu3EdGpDkC
The broken sentences.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsleKIUk1RV
The last words muttered into mugs.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPAdnKjgje
The laughter that no one else witnessed.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCROocPtGxT
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXrgWxbqQY
they are not gone.
They may fall.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡot77pumEjg
They may pass.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUP9q8tmUH
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Vjm9IDLD9
Not while the fire burns.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjnaeJGNCH
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAFHOIaaUu
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA439GWF8R2
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
and then Add to home screen.