Sadness wasn't a religious person. She had nothing wrong with people who were, it just wasn't part of who she was. But that was before. Now, she was sure there was a Devil. Only He could be this cruel.
Joy dragged them up the hill, excitedly babbling about the beautiful day and amazing food they had and general amazingness of life. Joy was one of the only things that Sadness smiled about. In anyone else it would be brain-meltingly annoying, but Joy's boundless positivity and happiness always made her feel happy.
They sat down in the shade of the tall tree at the top of the hill and dug into their meal.
They never saw it coming.
That is why they call it a flash flood. It happens in a flash. As it was, the only reason they survived was because they were on top of a hill. One moment everything was fine. 20 seconds later, everything but the hill they were sitting on had been erased by the roaring torrent of water.
And it was still rising.
As the current quickly ate away at the soil on the hill, the tree behind them began to tilt dangerously. Without really thinking, Sadness shoulder-checked the tree. When it passed the point of no return, Sadness grabbed Joy's hand and jumped onto their wooden Ark.
It worked. They were floating above their old town, being carried by the flow.
Or most of their old town.
Sadness felt the jar as they hit something a lamp post, or the church spire maybe.
It didn't matter. It was enough.
She heard the shriek behind her and turned just in time to look Joy in the eyes one more time before she fell in the water.
The look in Joy's eyes would stay with Sadness forever.
Laying down, she hugged the tree trunk with her arms and legs.
And her tears mixed with the flood.