Paulina Hildesheim

— In Leipzig, Nele is suffering from the effects of the lockdown. In Tehran, Nika is fed up with the regime’s strict rules. The two meet over Instagram. And fall in love. Then, the uprising begins in Iran.

Written by Luisa Hommerich

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May 2021 — Nele and Nika start chatting. Nele, a 14-year-old living in Leipzig, posts on Instagram about a serial killer she was fascinated by. Nika, 15 years old, 3500 km away in the suburb of Tehran, reaches out to her.

»Hey, interesting profile«, she writes to Nele.

They start chatting, are both into true-crime, the color black, the song "Say it right" by Nelly Furtado. They fell in love. When Nele is asked what she liked about Nika she says "Everything!"

When they missed each other, they said: "We don’t live in the same country, but beneath the same sky." The moon had an important role for them. They called each other "moonies",both loved everything dark, autumn, Halloween.

The two were dreaming about their future. Nika wanted to come to Germany when she was 18. She was planning to start a German class in October.

Autmn 2022 — Nika sings an old Persian love song, a video of her goes around the world. The protests in Iran are part of the everyday news in Germany. Nele is scared about Nika.

Nele (7:48 p.m.): R u okay? 

Nele (7:48 p.m.): I swear im gonna freak out if u dont answer 

Nele (9:08 p.m.): Niki nikiiii

ZEIT Magazin — No. 47 2022 - photography — Paulina Hildesheim - photo editor —Milena Carstens - author — Luisa Hommerich