I don't know how to write first-persons, so please give me constructive criticism. Thank you.

The Sad Joy-An Inside Out One-Shot by AnnaTheMockingjay

We're stuck. In the memory dump.

I tried to run and climb my way to the top, but Bing Bong here has just told me that we can't escape. There is some truth to that.

Nothing comes back from the dump.

We are about to be forgotten.

My heart secretly breaks, but I know that I have to stay as positive as possible. I'm Joy, duh! Joy doesn't cry. However, if anything, this seems like the most likely time. About to be forgotten?

I see in the distance something blue. Other than me, that's the only light in this darkness. Confused, I walk up to it, and I see that it's the core memory that I got rid of a few hours.

Everything's different now…that we moved…[sniff]

Seeing Riley like this is the final straw. I can't save her. She will be forever sad and angry. My girl has fallen to…to…

Me.

I can feel my tear ducts get ready, and I collapse to the ground. I have to stay…positive…

(Anyone get that Unikitty reference? That's me, btw)

The first one I pick up is dark, and very sepia. That means it's been forgotten. That too, is heartbreaking. These are the great memories I helped Riley make, and they were PERFECTLY FINE! And now…they're forgotten. Waiting to disappear. Cause I did see a memory disappear over when I found the first one.

Tears begin watering in my eyes, and I have to try and keep myself from shattering into a million pieces. If this was Headquarters, it would be fine. But, with Bing Bong watching…I can't break in front of him. That would prove that this situation is useless.

"Do you remember…how she used to stick her tongue out when she was coloring…" I say, and a sob breaks out from me. I know I can't keep myself together for much longer, but I'll try my hardest.

I sigh, and pick up another memory. "I could listen to her stories all day…" I say. This time, no sobs come out of me. Will I be lucky? Is there even the slightest chance that I might not break down? Maybe…I think to myself. But then again, that's only a tiny hope.

I sigh again, and watch another memory. (I really don't know what this one was, guys!) If there's one thing in common about these memories, it's that they all used to be happy. Used to be. Now, they're just forgotten. Add that with remorse and the fact that I am about to be forgotten, and you understand my condition.

Another sob breaks out from me, and I know that I am about to cry. The legendary Joy is about to fall to sadness. "I just wanted Riley to be happy…" I say, knowing that I'll only be able to say a few more words before breaking completely. "And now…", as I pick up the blue core memory.

I've reached my breaking point. I take in a deep breath, tears welling my eyes…and out they come. I try to hold onto the memories as comfort, but they bring nothing. Finally, my cries consume me, and I kneel over, dropping the memories, weeping. I'm actually crying harder than Sadness, the one that cries all the time, ever does. And yet, I'm Joy. Well, I push that to the back of my head as I simply sit there, hugging myself, crying. After a moment, I simply put my hands over my eyes, and sit there, crying.

Why does this feel so good? It feels like, for 11 years, something has been hiding within me. And now, it's come out. Was that the little feeling I had within me all those years, that I couldn't be happy forever? Well, either way, this actually feels quite good. Who could have known that crying felt good to Joy?
As I raise my hands to try and wipe my tears off, I notice two things. First, the blue glow around me has intensified. I'll look at that a little later. Second, a tear falls onto one of the memories. A golden one.

I might be crying, but even to the end, I will protect the memories. I lift it, sniffle, and wipe off the tear. What I don't know I'm doing is reversing the memory. Reversing it to its beginning, where Riley and her parents are sitting on the top of the tree.

The color has changed to blue.

Was it due to my tears? Can I even change memories to blue when I feel something other than happiness or positivity? Or was it because…because…

Because this is half-happy and half-sad?
To prove my theory, I do what I did before, and wipe my hand over it, sending the memory backward. Now, all I see is Riley on the tree, head hanging over. I can tell that she's crying, most likely.

Now I remember: Sadness was in control that day. She made me let her be in control, and I remember giving in. Either that, or I was crying like I was a minute ago. Probably the first of the two, but right now, I have no clue what I'm thinking. My heart is pounding out of my chest.

It was the day the Prarie Dogs lost the big game. Riley felt awful. She wanted to quit.

The words ring through my head as I fast-forward the memory a tiny bit. That's when her parents come and sit up there with Riley. I don't quite remember what they're saying. All I can see is that Riley's head is on her mother's shoulder. I can start to feel the tears retreat. A little.

I fast-forward the memory a little, and the blueness turns to golden. The sign of a happy memory. I have to not think about the fact that 90% of the memories down here used to be golden, but the fact that now, after Riley's parents comforted her, it appears that her team was…celebrating?

Why were they celebrating? Hadn't they just lost?

Suddenly, it all comes to me.

Sadness.

"Mom and Dad…the team…they came to help…because of Sadness!" I say, in the most stable voice I've had in the dump. And that's when it hits me. Sadness does have a purpose.

To signal when you need help.

Riley needs help. She misses home, and if her parents could help her deal with losing a hockey game, they definitely can help her deal with this move.

What I need to let happen will be very tough.

But I'm Joy. I know that I can.

"We have to get back up there."

Want me to write one about the next scene and the final scene? Let me know! I'll talk to you later! Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye!

-AnnaTheMockingjay