HIBAPRESS – Omar Razzini
Youssef, a young man in the prime of his life, carries within him a dream, simple in form, yet profound in meaning: to spend New Year's Eve in Holland. His dream wasn't born from a desire for the hustle and bustle of celebrations or the glitz of lights, but rather a search for a short break from the monotony of daily life, and an attempt to feel a new beginning in a different place, under another sky.
As the end of the year approached, Youssef followed images of the illuminated Dutch squares, the calm waterways, and the bicycles that never stop, even on the coldest winter nights. He imagined himself standing in Amsterdam or Rotterdam, sipping hot coffee, watching the hands of the clock approach midnight, while his heart was heavy with wishes that had not yet found their way to fulfillment.
Like other young people, Youssef carried on his shoulders the weight of daily reality: endless responsibilities, constant anxiety about the future, and many questions without clear answers. Therefore, the dream of spending New Year's Eve in Holland turned into a symbol of hope, and an indication of the possibility of change, even for just one day. He believed that welcoming the new year in a new place might give him a psychological boost, and different energy to continue on his path.
But the dream was not easily attainable. When Youssef decided to turn his wish into a practical step, he collided with a harsh reality. The Spanish consulate refused to grant him a visa, claiming a lack of trust, despite the fact that he was a young man who worked and possessed proof of his stability. The refusal was summarized in a cold official paper, but it carried within it a heavy feeling of disappointment, as if his ambition was reduced to doubt, and his dream was put on trial.
The visa refusal was not just a cancellation of a trip, but a long moment of silence filled with questions: How are young people asked to dream and plan, and then the doors are closed in their faces? And how is the intentions of a person questioned simply because he belongs to a different reality? Despite the bitterness of the experience, Youssef did not allow despair to creep into his heart. He understood that the rejection does not mean the end, but another stage of testing.
And so, Holland turned from a temporary destination to a larger symbol: a space where he breathes freedom, rearranges his thoughts, and reconciles himself with a year that has passed with all its disappointments. As the clock strikes midnight, whether the dream comes true or remains postponed, Youssef remains an example for young people who believe that beginnings are not measured by borders or visas, but by persistence and hope. Some dreams, even if delayed, remain fuel for the soul, and a point of light at the end of a long year.
