That was the story of the people in the cottage. I liked these people very much. I learned about good and bad people from them. I wanted to be part of their world. I wanted them to love me.
But something happened in the month of August. One night, I went to the woods. I wanted to find food and wood for the fire. I found a portmanteau (a large bag made of leather for clothes and books) on the ground. I took the bag back to my hovel.
Inside the bag, there were some clothes and three books. The books were in the language I had learned at the cottage. One book was about a man named Werter. Another book was about the lives of famous leaders from a long time ago. The third book was called Paradise Lost.
I read these books all the time. The books changed my feelings. Sometimes I was happy, but often I was very sad. I read about how people lived and how they loved. I began to ask myself many questions.
"Who am I?" I thought. "Where did I come from?" I did not have any answers. I felt very alone. I saw that I was different from other people. I was very big and very ugly.
The book about famous leaders taught me about great men. I learned about cities and countries. I learned about war and peace. I wanted to be a good person because of these stories. I admired the men who were kind and fair.
The book Paradise Lost was also very important to me. I thought it was a true history. I compared myself to the first man, Adam. God made Adam perfect and happy, but I was ugly and alone. Sometimes I felt like Satan because I was jealous of happy people.
I found some papers in the pocket of my coat. I had taken the coat from your laboratory. These papers were your journal (a book where a person writes their daily thoughts). I read these papers carefully. I read how you made me in your laboratory.
You wrote that I was horrible. You wrote that you hated my face. I was very angry and sad. "Why did you make me?" I cried. "Even you hate me!"
I looked at the people in the cottage. I saw that Felix and Agatha were happy. Their friend Safie lived with them now. They had more food and they were not so poor. They were kind to each other every day.
Winter came again. I decided to talk to the family. I was afraid because I was so ugly. I decided to talk to old De Lacey first. He was blind, so he could not see my face.
One day, Felix, Agatha, and Safie went for a long walk. Old De Lacey was alone in the cottage. He played music on his guitar (a musical instrument with strings). I felt very nervous. My heart beat fast.
I knocked on the door. "Who is there?" asked the old man. I entered the cottage. I told him that I was a traveller. I said I needed to rest by the fire.
The old man was very kind. "I am blind," he said. "I cannot give you food, but you can sit here." We talked for a long time. I said I had no friends or family.
I told the old man about some "friends." I said these people were good, but they were afraid of me. I said they did not like my face. The old man said, "Do not be sad. I will help you."
I was very happy. I felt hope again. But then I heard the others coming back. Felix, Agatha, and Safie were at the door. I was very scared.
I took the old man's hand. "Save me!" I cried. "You and your family are the friends I am looking for! Please do not leave me!" The old man was very surprised. "Who are you?" he asked.
Then the door opened. Felix, Agatha, and Safie saw me. Agatha fainted because she was so scared. Safie ran out of the cottage. Felix was very angry.
Felix ran to me. He pulled me away from his father. Felix hit me many times with a heavy stick. I did not hit Felix back. I was too sad to fight.
I ran out of the cottage. I went back to my hovel next to the cottage. I felt a lot of pain and anger. I was alone again, and my heart was broken.