Still Place Ledger - Diary Log #19,937 – The Fire Only Forgets What Asks to Be Forgotten

There are two deaths.

The first is the death the world knows30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqyC784pO0
The falling asleep.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzElBCZiAs
The last breath.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoN2Ua8W0oX
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.

It comes in many shapes.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbe9wv0n58
The guests speak of it often.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8Xlca2kA1
Sometimes with fear.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPJUzB85YP
Sometimes with relief.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXssf47ZaB
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.

That death comes for all.

But there is a second.

The deeper one.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBETic2cCir
The crueler one.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFAhCh1TLZ
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.

It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjU3QMMGe1
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmtcmAqXBl
No one who remembers that you ever were.

And that, That is why I am here.

They think I serve drinks.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtAT2rLmqv
And I do.

They think I listen to stories.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNoN811nKR
And I do.

But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:

I remember.

I remember the names not said aloud.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIUGG5BqX0
The broken sentences.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMmtAxEuZ6
The last words muttered into mugs.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fyZ9FWTsY
The laughter that no one else witnessed.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsoBePEX8B
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.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvb04SyvKA
They may pass.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVDUu0brVe
But they are not erased.

Not while the tavern stands.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsnvOwjyZJ
Not while the fire burns.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqWdLAiJ6m
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.

Let kingdoms crumble.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8mGbrGIzT
Let stars go dim.

Here, even the forgotten are held.

And as long as one ember glows,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKpWTMSLfx
no soul will suffer the second death.

Not on my watch.

Not in this place.

ns216.73.216.115da2