There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWtoFbG1Aw
The falling asleep.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3V1VjeClS
The last breath.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQyaGngk1V
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7Zji1rSUb
The guests speak of it often.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhJ69bnIn4
Sometimes with fear.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFl7FWaUHhU
Sometimes with relief.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqudi0O9Oa
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iOILWjneL
The crueler one.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKD5xZkZLM
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vq9nadsJ2
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKevLWB6MJ6
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbVBbbN66X
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8CJHDK7RH
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG5k47Psj0
The broken sentences.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz51UMBR9iR
The last words muttered into mugs.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPIPUnyPMf
The laughter that no one else witnessed.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7EAMMyIXZ
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoGtmnWwXg
they are not gone.
They may fall.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7NXRhKSwG
They may pass.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkpVmuvt4g
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUua8JZZ47a
Not while the fire burns.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbqHiCTNcC
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxW1UDPuqb7
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQdc8Lb4ea
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
and then Add to home screen.