The Third Night, The Fourth Night, and the Morning
On the third night, the dreamer arrives at their usual meeting place, his heart filled with excitement and nervousness. He has waited all day for this moment, and now, as he sees Nastenka standing there, his world lights up again. She greets him warmly but looks worried. The dreamer immediately notices her anxiety and asks her what has happened.
Nastenka tells him that she has not received a letter from the lodger-the man she loves and has been waiting for. She had expected him to send for her by now, to come back into her life and fulfill his promise to marry her. But there has been no message, no sign of him. Her voice trembles as she shares her fears. Maybe he has forgotten her. Maybe he has met someone else. Maybe he no longer loves her.
The dreamer sees her sadness and tries to comfort her. He reassures her that the lodger might just be delayed, that there is still hope. He tells her that true love does not fade so easily. But deep inside, he feels a different emotion-a selfish hope that perhaps the lodger will not return. If Nastenka is left heartbroken, maybe she will turn to him instead. The thought makes him feel guilty, but he cannot help it. He loves her more than anything.
As they walk through the quiet streets, Nastenka listens to the dreamer speak about his past. He tells her how lonely he was before meeting her, how he spent his days wandering alone, lost in his imagination. He dreamed of love, of companionship, but never experienced it. Meeting her was like stepping into the real world for the first time. She smiles gently at him and tells him that she is glad he is her friend. He wants to tell her that he loves her, but he is afraid. He does not want to lose her.
On the fourth night, the dreamer rushes to meet Nastenka, his heart pounding. But the moment he sees her face, he knows something has changed. She looks anxious but also hopeful. She tells him that she has finally received a letter. The lodger is back in the city. He has not come to see her yet, but he is here. She is certain that he will come to her soon.
The dreamer feels as if the ground beneath him has disappeared. He forces a smile and congratulates her. He tells her how happy he is for her, even though inside, he feels like he is being torn apart. Nastenka takes his hand and thanks him. She tells him that he has been a true friend, that she will never forget him. Then, looking into his eyes, she says something that shakes him.
"If he does not come for me, I will marry you," she says.
The dreamer’s heart races. For a moment, it feels like a dream. Could she really love him? But then he realizes the truth-she is not saying this out of love, but out of kindness. She does not want him to be alone. She does not see him the way he sees her.
Before he can respond, something happens. Nastenka suddenly gasps. Her eyes widen. She looks past him, and before he can turn around, she cries out in joy. She lets go of his hand and runs forward.
The dreamer turns and sees him-the lodger. He has come after all.
Nastenka rushes into the lodger’s arms, holding onto him tightly, crying tears of happiness. She is speaking quickly, telling him how she waited for him, how she never doubted him. The lodger smiles, embraces her, and whispers something in her ear. She laughs, her whole face glowing with joy.
The dreamer stands frozen. He watches the scene unfold before him, knowing that he no longer exists in Nastenka’s world. Just moments ago, she had promised to stay with him if the lodger did not come. But now, she has completely forgotten him.
Slowly, he turns away and walks in the opposite direction. His footsteps feel heavy. His heart is shattered. He tells himself that he should be happy for her, that her happiness should be enough. But he cannot deny the pain.
Then comes the morning.
The city is awake again, but the dreamer feels more alone than ever. The streets, the houses, the people-all of them look the same, yet everything has changed for him. He no longer has Nastenka. The warmth she brought into his life is gone. He is back in his lonely world of dreams.
A few days later, he receives a letter from her. She thanks him for his kindness, for his friendship, for listening to her when she needed someone. She says she hopes he will find happiness. But the letter feels empty to him. He knows that he will never find another Nastenka.
The dreamer realizes something bitter-love is not like dreams. In dreams, anything is possible. In real life, some things are lost forever.
And so, he returns to his quiet, lonely world.
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