There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlF7TwqF43I
The falling asleep.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhAwxGWR4B
The last breath.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPlx0YAIqa
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NKZ9OuuyR
The guests speak of it often.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeksxthn4Z
Sometimes with fear.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNG6loA3j7R
Sometimes with relief.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KY9HP9GWO
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBueG1lbdXj
The crueler one.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz99gac0uac
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9CPVNJHLk
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINGZgghbfa
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngnbRDlBBh
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSctKflQb7
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIg8e4AHlD
The broken sentences.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8CnigpCZo
The last words muttered into mugs.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGKcSFvuGh
The laughter that no one else witnessed.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LB16mIXtS
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz126R1d8LM
they are not gone.
They may fall.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaMm5niGLh
They may pass.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMi81TqgKnl
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjj4WlN6lOG
Not while the fire burns.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLuS4t664B
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqh8wysAOm
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmL52qPpPH
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
and then Add to home screen.