There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkupcLZDxfC
The falling asleep.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77Z7tew9U4
The last breath.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sOKDzGQ6R
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkdlDFlrPz
The guests speak of it often.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Hk7Ppi5MQ
Sometimes with fear.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Zv3iw7PKv
Sometimes with relief.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYxU8mjfTl
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZENLHCkuc
The crueler one.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIogro6rdjQ
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡij8kNaVSev
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPTGroRGrT
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDMA84vr6i
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzTPhEyIjJ
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4DfvVEAxZ
The broken sentences.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iirUkP7lL
The last words muttered into mugs.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuwZNxFJZE
The laughter that no one else witnessed.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZRJsLBFC6
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQpyXM0Yr9
they are not gone.
They may fall.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaM1wd1xKf
They may pass.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHptWoFXBM7
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZfqkvk1dM
Not while the fire burns.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcp5orDOpD
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaSxZKavQe
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNv8sQxGC99
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
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