DIE WAND

Marlen Haushoefer, 1963

"Today, on the fifth of November, I am beginning my report. I will write down everything with as much precision as I can even if I don’t know whether today really is the fifth of November. Over the course of the past winter I’ve lost track of a few days. I can’t even say what day of the week it is. But I don’t think that’s very important. All I have to rely on are a few meagre scribbles; meagre, because I never expected to write this report, and my recollection of events may be different from my real experiences at the time. ​ All reports probably suffer from this shortcoming. I am not writing for the joy of it; I have to write to not lose my mind. No one is here to think or care for me. I am alone, and I must try to survive the long, dark winter months. I do not expect my report to ever be found. Right now, I don’t even know if I hope that it will be. Perhaps I will know when I am done with it."