"Adopted By" Oneshots!

I Am Leaving

(AN: Did anyone ask for another angsty songfic? No. But you're gonna get an angsty songfic. I sung this song in Chorus and my first thought was "*gasp* Penney" so I decided to write it)

Song: I Am Leaving by Miriam Sonstenes
TW: cancer, hospitals, mentions of death

Year: 2019-early 2020
Book: Adopted by Beetlejuice
Penneys Age: 14

I am leaving, I am leaving
Don't you cry, it won't be long

No one could stay strong anymore. Not Mom, not the rest of my family, not my partners, nobody. We were all losing hope, and it seemed I was the one that was keeping my family and friends from completely losing their minds.

And then one day, it suddenly hit everyone that I don't have much time left. My days were numbered, but for the first few days after the doctors broke that news, everyone I knew was in denial.

Well, everyone but me. I realized the severity of what was going on pretty quickly, and I found myself constantly telling my friends and family that it was going to be okay. Which is funny. Usually it was the other way around, them telling me it was going to be okay.

I'll hold onto one sweet memory
Singing songs until the dawn

"Mom." I said, trying to get Dana's attention. Her back was turned to me and her face was in her hands and I could hear the tears falling. "Mom, turn around, don't cry. It's me."

In that moment, I realized I had to toughen up and be the bigger person, despite me being the physically weaker one at the time.

"Mom. Hey, it's okay. Come here." Dana smiled weakly and reluctantly sat on the corner of the bed. "Mom, lemme ask you a question. In your opinion, what was the happiest memory we've had together?"

Dana cleared her throat and took a shaky breath. "Um...I guess I'd say when you got adopted. It's sad to say but we don't have much, you got sick so soon after your adoption..."

"Alright, Mom...if I die...just think of my adoption when you miss me, okay? And I'll always be here."

Jesus, I'm acting like a mother. To my own mother. And I'm only fourteen years old.

Take my hand, it's getting late now
Sing a song to dry the tears
Still in dreams I will remember
All that we lost through the years

"Mom." I said. I felt so bad, I guess talking about my adoption set Dana off because of what happened so soon after. My heart sunk when I realized that she was right, we didn't have many moments when I was healthy to spend together.

In fact, we had less than a month.

"Mom, please. Take my hand, it's okay. We'll be okay, as you say, it's only one more hurdle we have to jump together. And like you've always promised to be there for me no matter the circumstances, I promise to always be there for you."

"But Penney, baby, we don't have much...you don't have much..."

Time.

She couldn't even finish the sentences in her heartbreak.

I am leaving, I am leaving
Don't you cry, it won't be long
I'll hold onto one sweet memory
Singing songs until the dawn

"But Penney, I...I'm sorry, I just can't lose you...I know it sounds stupid but I'm scared."

"Mom. Mom, listen to me. It's okay to be scared, remember? You say that to me all the time. I mean, I can't even imagine what you're feeling. For God's sake, you have to deal with your daughter dying, I mean, it's scary for me...but I'm not the one that has to carry the pain for the rest of their life."

Dana looked up at me with tears in her eyes. And seeing my mom cry hurt me more than anyone could have ever imagined.

"You mean it? It's okay?"

"Mom." I said, giving her a hug. "It's okay, it'll be okay. And that's a promise."