White Nights

White Nights is a lyrical short story by Fiódor Dostoyevski, set in St. Petersburg and narrated by a lonely, unnamed dreamer. The protagonist lives an isolated life, wandering the city and imagining romantic fantasies to escape his solitude. Everything changes during a summer «white night,» when he meets Nastenka, a young woman crying by a canal. The dreamer comforts her, and they form a fragile bond over four nights. Nastenka shares her own story: she awaits the return of a lodger she loves, who promised to marry her but has not returned. As they spend time together, the dreamer falls deeply in love with her, experiencing companionship and hope for the first time. However, on the final night, the lodger returns. Nastenka, overjoyed, reunites with him, leaving the dreamer heartbroken yet gracious. Though devastated, he chooses to cherish the fleeting happiness their brief connection brought him. The story closes with his reflective acceptance – even a moment of love, though temporary, can illuminate a life of loneliness.