The silence lasts just one second in which at midnight between 1991 and 1992 the East German frequencies give up the ghost. Hans is sitting in front of the radio at Katharina’s and takes in the very short silence with which his past life is lopped off. It was a little like that moment in La bohème where Mimì dies, and none of her friends notices. It is his first time celebrating New Year’s with Katharina, because Ingrid has to keep company with her mother, who is poorly. Katharina is in jeans and slippers. But at least she’s sprinkled some confetti on the table and poured some Rotkäppchen. It just happens so casually, says Hans. Because dying isn’t much really. It’s just something ceasing to be.