Hello there, I’m Henrietta. You might notice something right away — I’m not like the other hippos. My body is covered in hair, and for a long time, that made me feel small, out of place, and even unwanted. I used to hide from others, afraid of laughter and whispers, and I once left home because I couldn’t bear the unkindness. But my journey taught me something precious: that our differences are not curses, but treasures.

When I walked through deserts with the heat pressing down, when I wandered jungles where shadows grew tall, when I climbed lonely mountains, I met creatures who didn’t laugh at me but listened, helped, and cared. They showed me that kindness matters more than appearances. Now, when I look at myself, I don’t only see hair — I see courage, resilience, and a heart that loves deeply.

So if you ever feel different, odd, or left out, know this: you are not less. You are wonderfully, uniquely you. I will always remind you of that, just as my friends reminded me. Sit with me by the riverbank, and I’ll share my story — one of sadness that turned into hope, of rejection that became friendship, and of learning to see beauty in the mirror again.