There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQZUU8yaL4
The falling asleep.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLv4W4vsjTU
The last breath.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVQXos9zt2
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRO31x1haeT
The guests speak of it often.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNGKJSvXbJ
Sometimes with fear.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQCk5PLcrP
Sometimes with relief.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFC6pb1Kz10
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbWvIwYj5h
The crueler one.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0F9JsfTAQq
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0AvhMBCTN
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYL7JTSeS5A
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkfnHLVKLA
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7Iyi59aMo
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sHLb3E0FB
The broken sentences.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLPuf6pDJR
The last words muttered into mugs.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn912zzd9cz
The laughter that no one else witnessed.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfjco2AYg6
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsNi4PbYc4
they are not gone.
They may fall.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2J3R9olfg
They may pass.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfTrAIoF4F
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFm8rFkE2Z6
Not while the fire burns.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhrplfSsA6
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2ueyIsPaI
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvVUgiurNP
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
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