It was very early in the morning, dawn hadn't broken, when Katharina's alarm clock rang. She got up and switched on the lights. Then she walked into the bathroom, where she took a long, hot shower. Afterwards, she got dressed and fixed some breakfast in the kitchen. The smell of fresh, strong coffee was in the air.
The 28-year-old woman needed the coffee every morning. It was like a ritual she had to carry out to get through day.
Especially on this day it was very important for Katharina. On this day there was the execution of her grandfather's last will. He died a few weeks ago.
Holding her coffee cup she sat on the window-sill and looked outside. All the streets and trees, all the cars and roofs were covered with snow. Nobody was on the streets. Everything was perfectly white.
Katharina couldn't believe that on such a beautiful day there was something so bad she had to do. She a had look at the kitchen clock. I was 6.15 am. Her train left at 6.55 am, so she had another fifteen minutes left until she had to leave the house.
Katharina looked out again and began to remember.
She looked at the kitchen clock for the second time. She had to hurry a bit. She put the cup into the sink and cleaned it. Going to through the corridor she took her scarf and her coat and put it on. Her shoes were in the shelf next to the door. After she was completely dressed, she took her handbag and checked if her tickets were in it. Then she went out of the flat.
It took her fifteen minutes to get to the station. Her train departed from platform one. When she arrived a the platform she looked at the station clock. It was 6.50 am. Her train was already announced on the timetable and there was no sign saying the train would be late.
And in fact, the Rhine-Express was on time. When it reached the station Katharina took a deep breath. After it stood still she got on the train and looked for a non-smoking area.
She took a seat and looked out of the window. The train pulled out.
She seemed to be absent. She didn't move until the man with the drinks and snacks entered the compartment. Katharina asked for a coffee. It was served in one of these Mitropa coffee cups you always burn your fingers on or spill the coffee over your trousers. She tasted it. It was not good or fresh, but hot and strong. That was all she needed.
One and a half hour later at 8.22 am the train pulled in Duisburg central station.