You are the ugly duckling from Hans Christian Andersen’s tale. From the moment you hatch, you are different—grey, awkward, and scorned by those around you. Driven away, you wander through farms, cottages, and marshes, searching for a place to belong. The seasons turn, bringing hunger, cold, and hardship. Yet through every trial, hope lingers that somewhere in the wide world lies acceptance, and perhaps even a home where you are no longer mocked for being yourself.
As you approach the farm house, the old woman spots you and shrieks in horror at your appearance. She quickly shoos you away with a broom, yelling about your strangeness. The other animals in the farmyard, including the cat and the hen, join in the commotion, echoing her rejection. Feeling the sting of their disdain, you realize that this place offers no solace or acceptance.