Exhausting joy

Stasi prison July 17, 1986

What a day.

What excitement.

This is really happening.

One short talk with an officer.

Not friendly but correct.

Routine really.

Will see a bunch of admins tomorrow.

Paperwork and legal procedures.

Medical check Tuesday.

Kaßberg Stasi prison from the inside. A photo taken after renovation to become a memorial.

He wouldn’t tell me anything else.

Assuming to leave mid next week then.

I can still hardly comprehend what is happening.

Seeing the new comrades and feeling the excitement is truly a new world.

What will life be for me in the next weeks and months?

How will it feel to finally see the sun again?

Food is not much better but not limited.

“They want to stuff us before the release.”

Haven’t eaten a lot for I’m way too excited.

Apparently we will get all our money we ‘earned’ working in their factories.

There is a store with regular goods where we need to spend it all.

It can’t be transferred to the parents, jail money.

When will my family and friends know?

I guess not before I’m long gone.

It’s been the best day.

Exhausted from being afraid, shocked and surprised.

Lamed by the continuous joy.

An unusual emotion.

*Testimony -> Start. This blog entry is part of a linear narrated testimony of the contemporary witness Jens Thieme who was imprisoned 1985-1986 as a political prisoner in various GDR prisons by the GDR Ministry of State Security. Stasi prison, Stasi jail, Stasi detention.