The City Never Waits

At just seventeen, Alina was supposed to be worrying about college applications and late-night phone calls with friends. But instead, she's learning how to survive in New York-without her parents, a safety net, and anyone truly understanding her silence.

As the subway rattles and the streets blur, she juggles school, work, and the haunting ache of missing home. Every corner of the city holds a new challenge... but also, a quiet strength she's discovering within herself.

This is not a story of a perfect life. It's a story of resilience. Of a girl who stayed strong when the world around her fell silent. Of finding hope in the unlikeliest places-and becoming her own home.

"Her parents left the city, but she never left her dreams."