**White Nights: First Night (A Simple Summary)** It was a quiet summer night in St. Petersburg. The sun had not fully set, and the sky still had a soft glow. The narrator, a lonely young man, walked through the streets. He loved the city but had no friends. Every day, he spent his time wandering, watching people, and imagining their lives. He wished he could talk to someone, but he was too shy. One evening, as he strolled along the river, he saw a young woman standing alone. She was leaning on the railing, looking at the water. She seemed sad. The narrator hesitated, but then he gathered courage and walked closer. The woman noticed him and stepped away. She was afraid. The narrator quickly reassured her. He promised he meant no harm. He just wanted to help. She looked at him closely, trying to decide if she could trust him. Finally, she smiled. They started talking. Her name was Nastenka. She was kind and gentle but had her own sadness. She lived with her strict grandmother, who never let her go out alone. This was one of the few times she had escaped. The narrator was delighted to meet someone who would talk to him. He told her about his lonely life. He had no family or close friends. He spent all his time in books and dreams. Nastenka listened carefully. She was touched by his words. Then, she told her story. She had loved a young man who rented a room in her grandmother’s house. He was a poor student, but he had promised to marry her. One year ago, he had left to find work, promising to return. She had waited every day, but he had not come back. She still loved him and hoped he would return. The narrator listened with a heavy heart. He realized he was falling in love with Nastenka. But he also knew she was in love with someone else. As the night passed, they talked and laughed. The narrator felt truly happy for the first time. Nastenka asked if they could meet again the next night. He eagerly agreed. As the first night ended, the narrator walked home, his heart full of hope and sadness. He knew he had found a friend, but he feared he might lose her soon. Would Nastenka’s love return? Or would the narrator’s dream of love come true? Only time would tell.
