There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQCZH4Eo7G
The falling asleep.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlXIwa9Ly5
The last breath.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoTxgN4Yzq
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZagc1IJq8D
The guests speak of it often.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uvKglxr66
Sometimes with fear.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9HlwKfIhD
Sometimes with relief.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6COoxZUicA
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PcTY8p4PH
The crueler one.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBIUklNmxz
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIEldWUybD
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ta4cjfD7m
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVegUdvi0B7
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5F4Xw2XWh0
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0urSlyzFbo
The broken sentences.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjaiGyLWhX
The last words muttered into mugs.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSa6A7WyOjy
The laughter that no one else witnessed.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9eqIcDOyO
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡML4aJazdF8
they are not gone.
They may fall.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZAACwmaNq
They may pass.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAq1fT3VKo
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OTwrWVNUv
Not while the fire burns.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6tgfFI24i
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrnW5EGn4c
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xlnQYnlu9
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
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