Chapter Text
There were regular days in the playroom, atleast almost everyday was. Raggedy Ann would spend all day taking care of the other toys, helping them, playing games(even with Marcella too), having chats and on rare occasions having some time to herself. What's also important was when she would go to school with Marcella, her brother, Raggedy Andy would take over until they got back. For a long time everyday, the whole playroom was filled with giggles, chatters and singing. Until one day, everything would change for Ann and the rest of the playroom dolls.
You see, Raggedy Ann has a candy heart inside her chest, lost in thick bushes of cotton stuffing. Well, one day, Ann started feeling really off. It's like she was painting a fake smile across her face and when everyone was doing their own thing, she'd hide away and wipe it off. Maybe it's something to do with her heart...
Of course there were times when Marcella’s mama would place a fresh, new heart inside Ann's body and sew it back up afterward. Those were non-often surgeries, but maybe this time she forgot...
The first time someone noticed that Ann was feeling unlike her usual self was when she would step away from fun activities and games and go hide somewhere where nobody could see her so she can cry alone.
Andy was really worried for his sister, she would participate in almost every game and activity, that wasn't her usual self. He looked everywhere until he finally found her curled up sobbing into her knees. His heart sank, who done this to her? He moved a little bit closer just enough for her to have some space, then he spoke. "Annie?"
Ann slowly looked up to see Andy's worried face, she gasped and scurried a little bit away in a panic as if he were some monster.
"Hey, hey it's okay. It's me, Andy"
Ann froze for a second, then she started breaking down again. Those tears weren't silent tears, they were real painful tears, like the ones you've been holding in for so long. Andy's heart sank once again, then he opened his arms
"Want a hug?"
Ann nodded
"Y-Yes..."
Andy moved closer and wrapped his arms around her, one of his hands coming up to rest against the back of her head.
Ann sobbed into his shoulder, her hands gripping the back of his shirt. Tears were already creating a wet patch on his shoulder, but Andy didn't have time to care about that, he was more worried about his poor sister. Ann opened her mouth to try and apologise but closed it and cried even more, Andy just held her tighter. The hand that was just resting against the back of her head was now moving up and down ; Andy was gently stroking her hair, he had always done it whenever Ann was crying or just needed comfort, and it worked. For a while neither sibling spoke, the only sounds there were was Ann's sniffles trying to calm down and Andy's steady breathing, in fact, it took a while for Ann to calm down, not fully, but enough to try and speak out her feelings. Andy pulled back slightly just to look at her face, her cheeks were still very wet from crying so much.
"Would you like to me what happened?"
Andy asked, his voice as soft as a pillow.
Ann stared down at the floor for a moment, then finally spoke.
"I'm just feeling a bit sad"
Andy listened carefully.
"I don't think I'm in the usual version of myself, I feel oddly different..."
Ann paused but continued
"I feel like I'm becoming more sad day by day and I don't know what to do..."
That sentence nearly made her tear up again.
Andy felt a mix of sadness and sorrow swarm inside his own body.
"I'm sorry you feel this way, Annie"
Andy whispered
"I'm gonna try and help you the best I can"
Andy paused for a moment trying to find the right words.
"I'm not sure how, but I'll try my very best"
That made Ann tear up again, Andy handed her a small scrap of cloth he found on the floor like it was a handkerchief, Ann took it and gently dabbed her eyes and she hugged him again.
"Thank you Andy..."
Ann whispered
"Anytime sis"
Andy gently whispered back, his arms tightening around her.
The first few days since then got more and more horrifying for Ann and the other toys. They were confused at what was going on with her. That was only the beginning.