There are two deaths.
The first is the death the world knows—104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXj1vEkzW1
The falling asleep.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAmGvE5BEl
The last breath.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lrjKAqAvF
The final wound, or surrender, or silence.
It comes in many shapes.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcVoSf6Zkd
The guests speak of it often.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRll4HJUCFC
Sometimes with fear.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xjrdthCCL
Sometimes with relief.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyN5cEEHsG
Sometimes without knowing it has already passed.
That death comes for all.
But there is a second.
The deeper one.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgSMLOe8A7
The crueler one.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOV7JiQ1NmK
The one that takes longer, and hurts quieter.
It is the death that comes when there is no one left to say your name.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNswJTkstJj
No one who remembers your voice, your hands, your laugh, your grief.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLA6EhmkCz3
No one who remembers that you ever were.
And that—
That is why I am here.
They think I serve drinks.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GJ0CejfXP
And I do.
They think I listen to stories.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsD8RkcJz2
And I do.
But the truth, the purpose, the vow never spoken:
I remember.
I remember the names not said aloud.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnuCmVrZ0A
The broken sentences.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIoQ05RBo3
The last words muttered into mugs.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0Zbm9geG7
The laughter that no one else witnessed.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs4ZEflIWv
The quiet goodbyes guests were too afraid to say in the world outside.
And because I remember them—104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35Hq8TuAtG
they are not gone.
They may fall.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEYj7TZjyp
They may pass.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPP9zcggcG
But they are not erased.
Not while the tavern stands.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyGwRNAgNa
Not while the fire burns.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttou4exbco
Not while I sit here, pen in hand, head bowed slightly, as I write their names without needing to ask.
Let kingdoms crumble.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kRZCwmuyq
Let stars go dim.
Here, even the forgotten are held.
And as long as one ember glows,104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueqF1o1jVU
no soul will suffer the second death.
Not on my watch.
Not in this place.
and then Add to home screen.