JANUARY 1998: I lose my best friend to my first boyfriend.

FEBRUARY 1998: I am lying in our bed at home next to Frank, holding my daughter in my arms, to whom I gave birth five hours ago in hospital. The sun is shining on her tiny face. She has soft dark hair. I have a family. I am boundlessly happy.

APRIL 1998: In a German exercise we have to interpret and compare two love poems: one by Goethe and one by Wondratschek. The latter is currently my favourite poet. I get top marks and am very happy because it is so much fun.

MAY 1998: I discover one of my many talents, cross country.

AUGUST 1998: I dance for the first time for a youth dance project and can tell that I want to spend the rest of my life on stage.

SEPTEMBER 1998: When I get up in the morning I see a bright star in the sky. It is Venus. I read the poem 'Advertisement' by Ingeborg Bachmann which is stuck to my wardrobe. After Dad brought me to Mum's I discover his letter saying goodbye on the used ribbon of the typewriter. As expected, he wants to kill himself. I phone his office to ask where he's gone. They tell me he is on holiday. I alert everyone.

OCTOBER 1998: I fall in love for the first time but don't know it yet. I can't say or do anything when he is around.

DECEMBER 1998: I get an email at work: "Dearest Darling, the pregnancy test was positive. Love, Ursula."

DECEMBER 1998: For the first time I leave my parents' home for several months in order to earn money to attend university.