Julia Keiling

Kerstin floats stoically across the Mecklenburg Lake District in her red GDR kayak. Aimlessly, between tourism and dreariness, she glides over the water for days, striving to remain alone. The many rivers and lakes are familiar to her. But where does Kerstin come from? What is she fleeing from? Who is pursuing her? The evenness of this journey breaks when Alima appears, finally asking the paddling loner the right questions.

When Max is caught by his father in a private moment, it has unexpected consequences for the family outing that follows. On the last summer day by the river, the fourteen-year-old is forced to rethink his understanding of masculinity.

A short story about love and lust in the capital city of Germany.