June 4/Letter. Brochure. Battle.

The Finanzamt sent me a letter.

My heart stopped. One full second of cardiac silence while I stood in the hallway holding the envelope and conducted a rapid audit of every professional decision I've made since May.

It was a notification about a change in reporting deadlines for Kleinunternehmer. I did not need to do anything. I needed only to be aware.

I sat down. I read it three times. I then felt — and I am not proud of this — faintly disappointed. I had prepared emotionally for a reckoning. I had arranged my arguments. I was ready to account for the €4.20 train ticket and the fountain pen and the KEF speakers.

Instead they sent me a brochure.

Anja said: 'Good news?' I said: 'Nothing. Deadline change.' She went back to her book. I sat with the letter a little longer, like a boxer who trained for a year and was told the match was cancelled.