Telling the Silence is an illustrated story depicting the journey from the world of sound to the world beyond it. A path that, at first, is marked by fear and a sense of alienation but ultimately becomes filled with acceptance and the joy brought by …
Karolina Pająk’s book, No One Will Ever Know, is a deeply personal story about living in the shadow of illness. Published in 2019 in a limited edition, the book came to life thanks to the efforts of the Children’s Fantasy Foundation. Sadly, Karolina did not live to see its publication. Her dream was fulfilled by a few dedicated individuals who completed, edited, and prepared the book for print.
We never thought, “It’s a shame Karolina won’t see this.” Some of us still feel her presence and believe that, in her own way, this determined highlander continues to oversee her project.
Editing: Michalina Kaczmarkiewicz
Design and Illustrations: Karolina Jeske
Typesetting: Krzysztof Krzywania
Proofreading: Tamara Książczak-Przybysz
Title: Joanna Roszak
“I have been ill for fifteen years, but I only truly felt disabled in the literal sense when I stopped walking. You can’t even imagine how powerless a person can feel. The worst part is being completely dependent on someone else. Dependence on another person is always restraining. You can’t do many things on your own; you’re constantly asking for help, and aside from gratitude, you have nothing to give in return. The discomfort and that strange sense of shame are lessened when I see that the person helping me does it willingly, not out of obligation.
Most often, it’s my mom and my treasure—my goddaughter. Recently, as my goddaughter was putting my socks on, she asked, ‘Karolina, when Grandma dies, can I dress you completely and help you?’ Can you imagine a four-year-old child asking such a question? At least now I know that, God forbid, if my mom were to pass away, I have someone who will never abandon me.”
