Alone in a Crowd

She was staring unseeingly at the crowded street below her. The lights and the noise of the city could easily be seen and heard while standing in her million dollar condo, surrounded by all her ‘friends’. She had once lived on the quiet farm in the middle of nowhere with her parents. She had a few friends, she had her beloved horse, she had enough. Though, she wanted more. It had been ‘too lonely’ and ‘to empty’. 

Her father was a million air, yet he decided to live on a huge piece of property in a moderate sized farm house. She had never failed to point out that they should live in some huge mansion surrounded by other people of the same status. She complained that there weren't enough people in her life. 

One day, her father was done with her ranting, so he sent her to New York City. He bought her a huge condo, and kept her bank account full. She had foolishly loved the fact that she was here. Now, she would do anything to get back to the quiet lifestyle that hadn’t been good enough before. 

“Alina.” Someone called behind her. 

Alina looked away from her window, away from the New York skyline, and to the girl who was supposedly her best friend. 

“Yes Dana?” Alina answered. 

“Come on, join your party. You have been moping around all night. It’s time to have some fun.” Dana pulled her into the packed room. No matter which way she turned, there was a sea of people in her line of vision. When she felt Dana let go of her hand, she turned, only to find Dana wandering off, probably finding something better to do. Alina sighed. That was how it always was. 

When she had first moved here, she couldn’t make friends for the life of her. Then she met Dana, who recognized her as Alina Gremin, Emit Gremin’s daughter. He was not only the CEO of the best clothing brand in the world, but he also owned the most popular magazine. One that Alina had been featured in many times. 

After the recognition, Dana became her best friend, and money spender. Alina seemed to acquire new ‘friends’ daily, but just like with Dana, they always ended up walking off, finding something better to do. Alina looked around the packed condo and made a break for the door. As she worked her way through the crowded streets of the city, she noticed something. 

Even though there were hundreds of people around her, none of them seemed to notice her. They were all too busy with their own lives to notice her. She felt a wave sadness flow through her. Out here, she had people around her in a physical sense, but no one was really around her. 

She frowned as she moved further down the street. Her eyes caught on many store windows. Her father's clothes were featured in quite a few. Alina hadn’t seen or spoken to her father in a year and a half. A few tears fell down her cheeks, but she wiped them away before anyone had the chance to notice, not that they would anyway. 

After walking around for an hour or so before walking back to her condo. The party was still in full swing, but for once, she didn’t care what would happen to her reputation. She found the source of the music and turned it off, only to find there were several sources. She found each one and turned them all off. People were staring at her. 

“What is going on?” Dana asked. “What happened to the tunes?” 

“I am closing down the party. Everyone out. Goodnight, have a safe walk or take a taxi.” Alina was walking back towards her bedroom. She heard people murmuring, but heading out of her condo. She did hear one set of footsteps following her. 

“Alina, what is going on? It is only like eleven-thirty. Why are you kicking everyone out so soon?”

“I am tired.” She said. It wasn’t a lie. She wasn’t tired, as in wanting to go to sleep, she just wanted to go home. Home being the house she had grown up in. Home being the farmhouse. Home being with the family she had left behind so long ago.  

“Come on girl, what’s really up? Why are you being so…” She trailed off. 

“So what?” Alina asked.

“So cold. You barely talk to us anymore, you always get around hanging out with me, why?”

Alina kept her back turned, not answering Dana. She just moved around her room, packing. “Where are you going?” Dana asked.

“Home.”

“You are home.” Dana said. “I am your best friend, talk to me.”

“You are not a friend Dana. You like my money, you don’t like me. I am done with this city, and I am done being alone. I thought it was better here, but it isn’t. I am alone.”

Dana scoffed. “Alone, you are in a city that is packed to the brim, you can’t possibly be alone.”

Alina spun, staring at Dana. “I am alone, Dana. Alone in a crowd. Sure, there are people all around me, but I am completely alone out here. I am leaving. Now, get out.”

Dana looked disgusted for a moment, then she put on a perfect mask of hurt on her face. She put her hand on Alina’s shoulder, pretending to comfort her. Alina just moved out of her reach, continuing to pack her clothes. Dana just scoffed, leaving the room.

The next morning, she flew out of the state on the American Airlines. After a four and a half hour flight, she landed in Arizona. With the car she rented, she drove for a few hours, into a no name town. A smile was on her face. She remembered every part of this town as if she had walked through it yesterday. It was her home town, and the one place that she knew she would find peace. 

When she turned into the long driveway of her father's property. As she drove down, her last argument with him came to mind. 

“You have millions, and we live out here. In this lonely, useless, small town.” Alina yelled. 

“Alina, sometimes small is better. You have more people here then you ever will in some big city. I may have money, but that doesn’t mean I need to spend it on these huge houses in huge cities.” Her father said back. 

“Those huge houses are better than this small one. There is no one out here.”  Alina said. 

“You truly think that? Fine, I will send you to the city, I will prove to you just how few people you will find out there. Don’t bother coming back until you learn.” 

“Learn what?” Alina asked.

“You will figure that out when you have learned it.” 

“Fine. I will love it there.” Alina said, then she walked off to her room to pack.

Her old house came into view. It looked just as she remembered it. Better yet, both of her parents' cars were in the driveway. Her car slowed as she pulled it next to the truck. When she got out, she saw her mother down at the horse barn. She didn’t see her father anywhere, so she walked up to the front door. 

After a soft knock, and a few minutes of waiting, her father opened the door. He was still looking down at a book that was in his hands. 

“Yes. How may I-”

His voice cut off as he looked up, and saw his daughter. She jumped forward, hugging him tightly, holding on as if her life depended on it. “I much rather be alone out here with my family than alone in a crowd.”

Her father hugged her back. “I am so glad you are back. I have missed you so much.” 

“I missed you too.” Alina answered. 

She stepped back, smiling at him. “I want to come back home.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Home being here, or in the city?”

“Home. The only home I have ever had.” 

Her father smiled at him, and received a smile back. “You know, it is lonely out there.” Alina said. 

He nodded. “I know, I worked there for years. How do you think I got millions of dollars?”

This caused a laugh to come out of her. She smiled at him. He waved her into the house, letting her get settled before they headed to the barn. After being welcomed back by her mother, she instantly knew this was way better than her condo, because at least out here, she wasn’t Alone in a Crowd.