New Year Vibe: Escape from Reality?

                                                            By Anonymous Nesibu

As I sat alone in my dimly lit apartment, the clock ticked closer to midnight, heralding the arrival of the dreaded New Year. The TV was on, but I paid little attention to the festive shows and celebrations that filled the screen. My thoughts were consumed by the stark reality of the world around me.

I couldn't help but reflect on the past, the way things used to be when I was just a child. It was a time when life was simpler, and the cost of living was within reach for most people. I remembered the days when a kilo of meat cost a mere 12 Birr, and a liter of milk was a luxury that only cost 2 Birr. Those were the times when three eggs could be bought for just one Birr. People lived by traditional values, and there was a deep sense of respect for one another. Crimes like rape, murder, theft, and burglary were rare, almost mythical occurrences.

But the world I inhabited now was a far cry from the one I grew up in. Every day seemed to bring a new wave of shocking news, as if the world had descended into chaos. People had become more divisive, angrier, and less tolerant of one another. It was as though a veil of darkness had descended upon society, obscuring the bonds that once held us together. The headlines weren't about something extraordinary happening; they were about the absence of normalcy.

I glanced out of my window at the city below. The New Year's Eve celebrations were in full swing, with fireworks lighting up the sky and revelers cheering in the streets. But it all felt so hollow to me, like a facade that masked the deeper issues plaguing our society.

As I took a sip from my glass, I couldn't help but wonder if the doomsayers were right. Some claimed that the end of the world was near, that salvation or judgment was imminent. It was as if people were searching for something to believe in, a glimmer of hope in these troubled times.

I sighed, my heart heavy with the weight of cynicism. I yearned for a return to simpler days, for a world where people were kinder and more genuine. The New Year was supposed to be a time for fresh starts and renewed hope, but it felt like a never-ending cycle of disappointment.

The clock finally struck midnight, and the cacophony of fireworks and cheering reached its peak. I forced a smile, lifted my glass, and joined in the celebration, if only for a moment. But deep down, I knew that the problems of the world wouldn't magically disappear with the turn of the calendar page.

As the fireworks faded into the night, I made a silent wish. I wished for a better year, not just for myself, but for all of humanity. I wished for a world where the promise of a new beginning was more than just an illusion, where the New Year's vibe would truly bring positive change. Only time would tell if my wish would ever come true, but for now, all I could do was hold on to a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos.