In this vast world teeming with millions of people, our story begins in what the West calls the Third World—yes, Africa, and more specifically, Algeria. But not just any part of Algeria.
While the rich lived in luxury, enjoying lives of leisure where every dream came true at the mere thought of it, there was another side—a dark side. A side where people fought just to earn a bite to eat. A people who had known suffering.
In a poor, struggling village, the dreams of its youth were shattered. Girls rarely received an education before being forced into marriage. Young men either joined the military to support their families, fell victim to drugs, were sentenced to life imprisonment leaving families behind, or risked everything fleeing the country on the so-called "boats of death."
Amidst all this despair, a young woman in her early twenties was born. Her childhood dream had been to become a doctor and bring joy to her parents and her two brothers. But fate had other plans.
She changed her path and made a decisive choice: she would become a businesswoman. It was the only way to lift herself and her family out of the cycle of poverty. She enrolled in a business administration university, but her mind was already set on leaving the country. The idea had taken root, growing stronger with each passing day.
The heroine of our story is Qamar—a kind-hearted girl who loves doing good. She is gentle, someone with whom both adults and children, even animals, feel at ease. Qamar is of medium height, wears a hijab, with fair skin and mesmerizing black eyes like the night, framed by long lashes. Her innocent smile could fool anyone into thinking her life is perfect.
She laughs a lot, yet her heart is full of scars. She is talkative, but her circle is very small, limited to those she truly loves. Her one goal in life is to succeed, become a businesswoman, and lift her family out of the cycle of poverty. She worked day and night to achieve her dream and move to Europe for further studies, knowing that it would bring her closer to her goal.
One ordinary day, Qamar woke up feeling tired from overthinking and stressed because all the universities she applied to had rejected her. Only one university had yet to make a decision. Despite this, she went to her university in Algeria, muttering to herself, "Another day passes like a year. When will life smile at me? I just need one step. I can't take this anymore. Oh God, help me."
The minutes and hours passed, and Qamar struggled to cope with a life she felt trapped in. Sometimes she thought of her parents, sometimes of her brothers, sometimes of her studies, and sometimes of her uncertain future.
The day ended, and Qamar returned to her dorm room, staring at the ceiling. Suddenly, a notification appeared on her phone. She picked it up with a mix of boredom and fear. Could it be from the university? She hesitated. What if it's a rejection? What if my dream is delayed for another year?
Taking a deep breath, she opened the message. "Hello Miss Qamar, good evening. Congratulations! You have been accepted by our university in France. We wish you a successful academic year and welcome you to our student body."
She read it once, twice, three times, tears filling her eyes. "Am I dreaming? Is this real? Truly real?!" she laughed and cried at the same time. She immediately called her family to share the news.
And so begins Qamar's journey in a foreign land—a place where she knows no one, and no one knows her. A country whose language she doesn't speak, where people dress differently, and everything is unfamiliar. But she has one goal, one motto:
"I will succeed, and I will return only as a victor."
After a month of preparing for her journey, Qamar sat with her family at the dinner table for the last time before leaving the country. She gazed at the dishes, savoring every bite of her mother's cooking, as if each morsel carried a memory from the past.
Her eyes moved over the faces of her family, one by one. To her father, who had been her rock all these years, never sparing her anything, she reached for his hand and said,
"I love you, Dad. You know that already. You've been my support, my everything. You were my father, my brother, my friend, my uncle, my grandfather. Thank you. I promise I will make you proud. I will succeed and save you all. I will return to you. I love you, Dad."
She hugged him tightly, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Then, she turned to her mother.
"Mom, my dearest friend, my heart, my beautiful rose, I love you. I will succeed and buy you a house just the way you dreamed. You will plant flowers in the garden, and I will make you happy. This is my promise."
Finally, she looked at her little brother.
"And you, my mischievous one, study well and listen to Mom and Dad. If you need anything, call me. I will work hard and buy you everything you wish for."
She hugged each of her family members, crying softly, fully aware that this was their last night together. After tomorrow, a separation no one could predict the length of would begin.
It was a difficult night for Qamar. Night fell, and everyone in the house went to sleep, but she stayed awake, reliving every memory of her home. The feeling of the last night was a strange mix of sorrow and joy—sorrow for leaving behind her family and all those she loved, and joy because she was finally leaving the country for a future whose mysteries no one could know.
Morning came quickly. The car carrying Qamar and her family headed toward the airport. When it was time for her flight, she said goodbye to her family and boarded the plane. A new, indescribable feeling filled her as the plane took off.
Hours later, the plane landed. Passengers disembarked, and Qamar stepped into the airport of France, dragging her large suitcase, almost as big and heavy as herself.
"Thank God I've arrived… this will be the beginning of my story. Yes, Qamar, here is your first step. Your family's trust is in your hands. Now, go and make it happen. Can I really do this?,yes I can sur".
And so, Qamar's story began after she arrived in France—specifically, Paris. A beautiful, bustling city, full of noise, crowds, and elegance. The noise, the kind she had never experienced in her simple village.
She took a taxi to her apartment, dragging her heavy suitcase. The taxi stopped in front of a modest building, as she had chosen a cheap apartment that matched her financial situation. She heaved her suitcase with effort.
"Oh my back… what is this from the very first day?" she groaned.
Finally, she reached her room. She opened the door to a small apartment—just one bedroom, a kitchen, and a bathroom. It was normal for a single person. She collapsed onto the bed and made a video call to her parents.
"Hi Mom, I've arrived! Finally… how are you?"
"I'm fine, my dear. And you? How was your trip? You must be tired."
"A little, but it's okay. I'll shower, eat something, and sleep—haha."
Her father's voice came through the call:
"Take care of yourself, my daughter."
"Thank you, Mom. I love you both. See you soon."