for me, ‘fertig’ is pure exhaustion. vibrant and aggressive, it presses down on my spine, jaw, spreads through me, beyond the room, and so far beyond it echoes back to my bones.

“fertig” is waking up from nightmares alone and walking to the kitchen with trembling hands, knowing class is in a few hours. i can dig up so many more images but i am still so tired. “fertig” is that somehow we keep moving, keep writing, keep allowing people to help us laugh in small, precious moments. “fertig” is no conclusion, just a forward action.