Hansel and Gretel..

A Thursday evening in March. A large house, where most of the household members were deep in a blissful, peaceful sleep.

The lights throughout the building were turned off. The darkness of the night in

the room was drowned out by the blue glow emanating from the computer monitor.

The deafening, oppressive silence was broken by the rapid tapping of the keyboard.

Despite the late hour, Małgosia isn't going to sleep, or maybe she doesn't want to?

A chat window is displayed on the monitor. Private messages are blocked.

And one nickname, a common occurrence: "silia." On the "general" page,

a conversation begins between her and the unknown (and previously unseen) Tothmes. This highly enjoyable conversation will not go unnoticed. And although they aren't alone, they try to learn as much as they can about their interlocutor, paying minimal attention to the other chatters. From the first click, they took a liking to each other.

The conversation lasted until dawn, but it had to end sometime.

"I'll say goodbye! School tomorrow..." the words appeared one by one on the monitor screen.

"Eh...L Live is brutal," Jan (for that was Tothmes's name) said, trying to turn the depressing moment of parting into a joke.

"Hmm...Will you be there tomorrow?" Małgosia asked impatiently.

"Maybe," the boy replied mysteriously, "if not tomorrow, then the day after tomorrow ." "

Hey, I'm asking seriously," she smiled.

"I'll find you whether you want me to or not—you don't think it could be otherwise, do you?" Jaś stated. "But weren't you supposed to be going already?

I was supposed to...and I still am..." "But I won't go until you tell me when I can meet you," she threatened. "

I'll be there whenever I'm needed," the boy declared, "and even when I'm not needed," he added with a smile.

"So tomorrow at the same time and place," Małgosia wrote. "So, are we set?" she asked, just to be sure. "

Of course, Princess, it can't be otherwise," came the affirmative reply.

And the clock hands were moving forward. Impatient time was racing against them.

"Okay... I'm going or I won't get up :P," Gosia said, trying to sound joking. "See you tomorrow and sweet dreams.

" "Good night and sleep tight,"

she heard as a farewell. The next day was spent waiting. Eagerly glancing at the clock, she thought about the boy she'd just met.

From the conversation, she concluded that he wasn't going to school due to a serious illness. She decided to ask about her observations and the speculations that were forming in her head during the evening 'meeting.'

She had been in the chat room much earlier, talking to the group. When it got late and all her friends had gone to bed, she was happy to see the words on the screen: "Thutmose entered the room."

From then on, their conversations became a daily occurrence. Not just at night, but during the day as well. Upon returning from school, Małgosia would immediately go to the post office to check for messages from Jaś.

She didn't ask herself if there was one waiting for her. She simply knew it. There was always a card, which brought her immense joy.

She felt so happy that she needed nothing else. Jaś was completely enough for her. Nothing could drown out that happiness. Whenever she felt sad or depressed, a conversation or the mere thought of him was enough, and she immediately felt better.

It wasn't as rosy every day, though. Although they spent a lot of time together during the week, Gosia's older brother would come over on the weekends, occupying the computer all day. Sunday evening was like salvation, a reunion after a separation that seemed like an eternity.

One evening, he said,

"I have something important to tell you, will you please listen?

" "Speak, I always want to hear your words," she replied persuasively.

This conversation was different from usual. Jaś told him how much Małgosia meant to him, that he couldn't imagine what life was like without her.

That he loved her, that he needed her, that she was like the oxygen he couldn't live without...

Gosia's reaction wasn't clear; she asked for some time, she had to think things through. She didn't want to offend him, yet she felt a strong liking for him. She felt happy in his company. She wanted to spend every free moment talking to him. She didn't want to make rash, impulsive decisions. She only wanted happiness.

After a few days, Jaś saw a goodbye message from Małgosia on his computer:

"Goodnight, my dear.

" From then on, they were a 'couple.

' Their 'life together' was complicated by Małgosia's school and Jaś's afternoon trips to the hospital for injections.

They saw each other briefly in the afternoon, too briefly. Maybe an hour.

In the evenings, Jaś didn't always have the strength to sit in front of the computer.

But they had each other, they knew that together(!) they would overcome anything.

There will be no problem they can't solve.

"I have to go, L, the hospital is calling," she often read in her small

chat window.

"It hurts, L, it's a shame you can't be with me now. Ugh..." he said, and then silence fell.

"But I know you'll be waiting." He tried to contain the moment of sadness.

He knew he shouldn't worry her, but everything he said was true. A terrible reality. "I'll be there.

" Małgosia felt it was the only way to lift his spirits in these difficult times.

"I'm going... Because I'll miss the bus," he wrote, and without waiting for a reply, he added:

"See you... as soon as possible."

The sun beside his name turned red.

He left Małgosia alone, staring at the monitor... lost in thought...

She wondered when she would be able to see him, when she would meet him.

How happy she would be if she could sit next to him and snuggle into his arms, arms that would never let go. She thought about how pleasant it would be to look into his eyes, feel the touch of warm hands...

and not just a cold keyboard... She wanted to be with him so much...

He wasn't enough for her in a picture, a so-called photo. Then she would turn off the computer and go for a walk with the dog, constantly thinking about the evening.

Evening conversations lasted long. Unless, after the IV and an all-afternoon hospital stay, Jaś didn't have the strength to write to her.

Then she knew his well-being was paramount, but in her heart there was sadness, emptiness, and a lack... His absence...

Time passed lazily, spent talking. Meanwhile, Małgosia went on a school trip to Zakopane, leaving behind Jaś, who missed her.

Two months passed, and the illness persisted. The damn pneumonia refused to leave him. June began. The end of the school year was approaching. Grade time. Jaś wasn't the happiest of times. Two months were missed... a low average, but one lucky thing: he was allowed to move on to the next grade. Vacation plans began. Małgosia first wanted to go on a school exchange to Austria, and then had to go to the seaside with her family.

Jaś was supposed to spend two stays in a sanatorium in Wieliczka.

He joked about it:

"They'll bury me underground... and I'll smell the flowers from underneath."

He wasn't thrilled about the trip. He didn't want to go.

He consoled himself with the thought that Małgosia wouldn't be there either.

The school exchange didn't come to fruition. Małgosia was left with a three-week seaside vacation.

Soon, all the dates were finalized.

Jaś was leaving for four weeks, Gosia for three.

The boy was leaving a week before her. They were supposed to return the same day.

Before leaving, Jaś told Małgosia about his friend, Marcin.

They weren't supposed to see each other for four weeks... a month! A whole long month!

They had no choice. They tried to console themselves with the thought that it was only a month. One short month in the context of their entire lives.

The unexpected time of separation had arrived.

"Smile, sunshine. I can't leave you sad," were their last sentences before leaving.

"What should I be happy about? That I won't read anything from you for the next four weeks? I need something else to be happy..." Although she didn't want to depress her companion even more with long conversations, she couldn't show any satisfaction.

"You know... that if... oh... sunshine, do it for me, please." She couldn't grieve him any longer. It wasn't his choice.

"Please," Małgosia replied.

"Thank you," he wrote. "I'm going because they're rushing me. See you in this terribly long month." "He's gone..." Małgosia ran to her room, locked herself in, and quietly repeated to herself... he'll be back! Soon! It will pass quickly.

Marcin was supposed to visit Jaś every week. He became the intermediary between them, and kept Małgosia informed about Jaś's health during the first week in the sanatorium.

Małgosia missed her first two days. She didn't have Jaś, and her older brother, constantly busy with his computer, prevented her from talking to Marcin. After exchanging a few e-cards, she caught up with Marcin around 4 a.m., while Łukasz was asleep. They had a very pleasant conversation. Małgosia learned a few more important things about Jaś. After all, Marcin had known him much longer.

The next day, or rather morning (because they were up early again), Małgosia learned some not-so-happy news.

"His mom visited Jaś today," Marcin announced. "He... he's coming home on Sunday, and then he's going to the hospital right away. "

Małgosia, not knowing what to say, remained silent.

"His parents are still sitting with my parents and talking about him," Marcin continued sadly. "I don't know why he's coming back; they don't want to tell me everything. I'll ask later, but I can't promise anything."

A stern silence fell. Because what could they possibly say now? Something bad was happening that they didn't want to tell them.

"I'm sorry..." Marcin broke the silence. "I didn't mean to worry you, I just want to be honest with you.

" "I know... thank you," Małgosia replied, but without conviction.

Then they talked for a while longer, then said goodbye and went to bed.

They spent the next few days talking, not only to the injured, but also to the computer during the day.

Until they left, she didn't learn the reason for Jaś's return from the sanatorium.

She felt terrible. She didn't want to go to the seaside at all, and what's more, she was leaving on Saturday, and Jaś was coming back on Sunday.

She had no choice but to go.

She bought Jaś a card, which she sent immediately. And a booklet, to send it on Jaś's birthday, which was to take place two days after she returned home.

She thought a lot about Jaś and Marcin. One day, she heard the beep of an incoming text message and quickly reached for her phone. Before she could answer, five more arrived. All were from Jaś! The message wasn't very optimistic. She particularly disliked the words: "(...)knowing my health condition and guessing the truth about him(...)"

These words echoed in her head until the end of her stay in Łeba.

After returning home, she only wanted one thing: to find out what had happened. When she sat down at the computer, Jaś was gone, Marcin was.

"Where is Jaś? When will he be back?" were the greeting questions. Not very pleasant, but now it was more important to find out something concrete.

"Jaś is in the hospital," Małgosia read the answer.

"Why?? How???" The questions came without hesitation. Gosia felt a pang of panic before reading the next answer.

"When he was in the sanatorium..." Marcin continued slowly, "he had internal bleeding. So they took him home for two days and then to the hospital for tests."

Małgosia didn't interrupt the story. She sat there, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"The results turned out to be TRAGIC for him..." Marcin stopped. After a moment of silence, he added:

"The results turned out to be TRAGIC for him. Like a death sentence. Malignant lung cancer," he blurted out, writing rapidly... until the letters jumbled together. He knew he was causing Małgosia immense pain. But he couldn't cope with the same pain on his own.

"Then... there was a fight with the doctor; he didn't want to operate, he was afraid. He said his body was exhausted, that Jaś wouldn't be able to handle it.

But he finally caved. He gave a 70% chance that the surgery would be successful... The 30% chance meant he wouldn't survive the anesthesia. Marcin slowly described Jaś's tragic fate.

"But did it work?" she asked, not believing Marcin's words would be comforting now.

"He's sleeping," he briefly informed

her. "He's sleeping... He's sleeping... He's sleeping..." these words echoed in Małgosia's mind.

And when will he wake up? She continued inquisitively and hopefully.

"He should..." Marcin continued, "He should have yesterday!"

Małgosia's world collapsed, and she felt a sharp pang in her heart. All hopes were dashed. "

I'm sorry... I can't comfort you... I don't want to believe it myself," Marcin tried his best. He knew it was difficult... and terrifying...

They sat there in silence for about two more hours before saying goodbye and turning off the computers.

Two days after their return, Małgosia wrote to Marcin:

"Jaś will wake up today, right?"

"I don't know." If it were up to me, he wouldn't be sleeping anymore, the boy replied

. "But he can't sleep through his birthday..." Małgosia said sadly.

"I had one yesterday... but it didn't help..." he informed her.

Małgosia hadn't sent him a birthday book.

She hid it in her closet. Waiting for Jaś's joyful return.

Since his return, Małgosia had begun talking frequently to her new boyfriend. Day by day, they became closer. Together, they endured the agony of Jaś's absence. But they supported each other.

Jaś slept. And Marcin took sleeping pills because he couldn't sleep.

Their days passed without any improvement in Jaś's health.

Marcin's parents went to his grandmother's in the countryside for the weekend, and he stayed with Jaś's parents so as not to be left alone at home.

Jaś's father was then called to the hospital, Marcin and his friend's mother were supposed to arrive later. As they ran up the stairs to the intensive care unit, they saw a ring of doctors surrounding Jaś's bed, resuscitating him. Marcin stood frozen, watching it all, losing hope that he would ever be able to speak with his friend again. He knew he needed faith and hope, but how could he believe that everything would be alright after seeing the agony Jaś was going through while he was asleep? When he returned home, he didn't want to talk to Małgosia about it.

He didn't want to inflict the same pain he was experiencing. From then on, the image from the hospital room was still fresh in his mind's eye. However, he realized he had to share this crucial information with Małgosia, who was waiting for his return. He sent her a card ("If it weren't for the resuscitation, if it weren't for the doctors, Jaś wouldn't be with us anymore") and then disappeared for two days, trying to think things through.

Time inexorably marches on, not waiting for poor Jaś, pushing Małgosia further and further behind. Months pass, one after another, and Jaś doesn't regain consciousness from the anesthesia. Małgosia and Marcin, waiting for a miracle, chat as often as they can. They support each other, longing together.

This story isn't over yet... It will continue...

Until death ends it... and perhaps even longer...

"Time heals wounds...

It dulls the pain...

But the longing always remains...

It doesn't diminish...

It grows."