There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KQkZtWKHZ
The falling asleep.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55CrPOWxim
The last breath.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bB6nsgYAL
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9h1Z0vwnhD
The guests speak of it often.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDLk2pjDqU
Sometimes with fear.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50iq2S658R
Sometimes with relief.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JvpAoakVq
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVYYEdprIv
The crueler one.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VCjJtqfsJ
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDFPBvrIRp
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ831IXomUdT
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdTpqvvA6X
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIzZnfPPVc
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6CcS9RczT
The broken sentences.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRej9Btb7J
The last words muttered into mugs.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JTHemEjRO
The laughter that no one else witnessed.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9ME8CzR2j
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOOjTxn9v2
they are not gone.
They may fall.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbUt7M7n4p
They may pass.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIQr2q7j13
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGX1ZO6LodR
Not while the fire burns.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYD0I5JPCAH
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7Bjzd91Vp
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjf56CbIEE
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
and then Add to home screen.