There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVK2CberWr
The falling asleep.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiz1wg5qcyH
The last breath.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOt2mUKC3Ul
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpiZhFjwQB
The guests speak of it often.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZILSWpSBO
Sometimes with fear.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKhQdEO3yp
Sometimes with relief.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgT0eATOwG
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbJLzu90GN
The crueler one.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCpS5DVuMS
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYDTBmpGO2
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUzROx8vvq
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that, That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtM6IQCiSN
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBjGtlOPRg
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXyr13Rb5R
The broken sentences.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmCB7CiRyJ
The last words muttered into mugs.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFCpn3gnks
The laughter that no one else witnessed.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEMUpcYC5X
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them, they are not gone.
They may fall.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKdUzPmfQe
They may pass.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLRBOsZhg0
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAzG7Q10NW
Not while the fire burns.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2CEwUe1tw
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcicZ0Duqw8
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKsHTNS3xT
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
ns216.73.216.146da2
and then Add to home screen.