Hans-Jürgen Alf

Asli first sets eyes on Saeed in the mid-1990s at a fairground as he is anxiously stepping off a merry-go-round just before the ride begins. They get to know each other while spinning bottles at a party in their student hall of residence. Asli is fascinated by Saeed's charisma and self-confidence. The two students marry secretly even though Asli's mother is against the relationship. In a mosque in Hamburg, they promise to stay together and keep each other's secrets.

Heiko's mother Belinda suffers from keratoconus, a rare condition of the cornea. She is gradually losing her sight and could soon go completely blind if she is not given treatment. Belinda's eyesight could be restored with the cornea of a deceased donor - but such a transplant costs a lot of money, and the health insurance does not cover it.