Wednesday I was sitting backstage at the theater, on my phone. Everyone on the internet was freaking out over the 9th, especially since Ariana just announced she would be leaving too.

@madisonscalves - wasn't @Abi_Miranda supposed to  be the whole casts kid? Why is she leaving with Lin??

@TJJMJLAH - @Abi_Miranda @madisonscalves, yeah. Why doesn't she just stay in the theater, and like... she'd be their like, collective child.

I smiled a little, remembering when I used to live here. I felt really cool, to be living alone, but people were always here. Now I wouldn't trade living with a family for the world. Lin and Vanessa were amazing. I loved waking up every morning and having Lin on the couch working on Moana, and Vanessa bent over her work, and Sebastian running around the house singing. I wouldn't exchange family for anything.

I wouldn't trade Vanessa's cooking for anything. The ability to sit around a table with people you love, I wouldn't give that up. I wouldn't give up the little conversations I have with my dad every night, because he insists on tucking me into bed. I wouldn't forfeit having a relationship with my little brother either. I wouldn't want to lose the knowledge that his favorite Chuggington train is Wilson. Family is important to me now. I finally understand it.

@Abi_Miranda - @madisonscalves truth be told, I don't know if I was supposed to be the casts kid... but I wouldn't give up my family for anything.

@madisonscalves - @Abi_Miranda but... the cast... the cast was your family...

@Abi_Miranda - @madisonscalves, they're always going to mean something to me, but, I actually have parents now... and... it's indescribable how much I love them

I smiled a little. I adored my parents and family, and I wouldn't trade them for the world.

@Lin_Manuel - @Abi_Miranda, it's indescribable how much I love you.

"Abigail! Ham4Ham!" Lin shouted and I stood up, shoving my phone into my shorts pocket. I ran over to him, by the door, and hugged my dad, tightly. "Woah, hey Kiddo!" He laughed, returning my hug.

"I love you." I whispered.

"Oh, oh sweetie, I love you too." He kissed my head and I smiled. "Come out when I knock for you okay?" He said.

"Mkay." I smiled, and he left the theater.

I sat by the door, listening to my dad read a letter. I couldn't believe he was leaving Hamilton, and I felt bad because I was excited.

Don't get me wrong, I loved everyone here. They had truly become like a second family to me, but I don't know, I changed. My whole life I had counted on people to be 'like my family' someone who cared about you. People who were 'like my family' were always much more loving then my biological parents and foster families, so I viewed having people being 'like your family' as better then having a family.

I guess I never really had a true family. When this whole thing started, I loved feeling like these people were my family, like they were all parents and uncles and aunts to me, but that's nothing compared to a real family. I met my aunt and uncle for the first time on Monday. I went to a family barbecue. I had the same last name as my parents, I lived with them, and I was part of their family. I wasn't just someone they cared about. They cared about me enough to swear in a court that they will always care about me. Nothing feels like your real family.

I was drawn out of my trance by my dad banging on the door, signaling for me to come out. I stood up and carefully opened the door. I stepped outside, the July warmth hitting me through my black One Last Time sweatshirt, my dad wrapped his arm around my shoulders, hugging me a bit.

"I'm really so sad to be leaving," he said, into his mic, "truly I am, but I spent years on Hamilton. I read that biography 8 years ago." He laughed. "I'm not disappearing from the world, I'll still be here, I'm leaving you in great loving hands, and I'll miss you. I'm leaving this show with so much more then I came in with. I can't believe what this show has become, and I am eternally grateful to all of you." He smiled, "anyways, this little child on my right," he looked at me, "Abigail." He nudged me.

"Hi." I smiled, waving a little.

"We're sad to be leaving you, although excited to start a new chapter of our lives."

Leslie and Pippa came out and we sang Happy Trails. Leslie wrapped an arm around my waist, and flipped his videoed himself, Pippa, and I singing. After the song, Lin waved to the crowd, took my hand and pulled me inside.

"Okay Peanut," he whispered, "I love you, I have work to do." He tousled my hair, "see you in a couple hours."

•••

I was cleaning, and organizing behind the little merchandise stand I used for work, when I heard Leslie's voice.

"So, on the 9th, it's not just me, Pip, Ari and Lin leaving, we're also losing our best salesman, well saleswoman." I looked up to see Leslie videoing, for his vlog. "Abi say hi." He smiled.

"Hi." I waved a little, then returned to folding 'Young, Scrappy, and Hungry' t-shirts.

"So, Abi, do you mind if I talk to you for a sec, like ask you some things."

"Go ahead," I smiled a little, "I'm an open book, well, to you, you're like my uncle." I laughed.

"Awe thanks. I'm glad I'm an honorary Miranda."

"Yeah, I actually just met my biological uncle on Monday." I said, then realized what I said. "I- I just meant, he's not- we're not related, I just meant- like." I held my head in my hands, embarrassed. "I'm sorry."

"No, sweetheart, don't be sorry, I know what you meant."

"No. I, I need to remember I'm, I'm not rel-"

"Shh." He said, "he's as good as biological okay? He's your dads brother in law, he's your uncle."

"Okay." I sighed.

"Anyways, so on July 11th, you won't work here anymore, are you gonna get another job, or finally let your dad give you an allowance and be a normal teenager?"

"Leslie you act like I'm the only teenager with a job, and I have an interview tomorrow." I smiled, taking the folded shirts and pulling them into the shelves, then pulled a box of beanies onto the counter to fold.

"Where?" He asked.

"Sardi's." I said, yanking out a mess of beanies.

"Shmanzy." He joked, "as a..." he trailed off, waiting for me to finish.

"Waitress." I smiled. "Only for a few months though." I shrugged.

"And why's that?" He asked.

"Oh, that's like, top secret. As my father would say. I mean, sorry, I can't say, but if you're gonna be in NYC between now and like, October, come to Sardi's!" I said to the camera.

"I will. I'll be there. I'll make you put a specific amount of ice in my water."

"Okay, and you're now officially my biological uncle because only those related to you can do that." I laughed.

"Nice." He smiled, "now, do you want some help?" He asked.

"Sure!" I lit up, I had a lot of stuff to organize.

"Awesome!" He smiled, and waved a bit to his camera, then set it down, "now what should I do?" He asked me, I smiled, and handed him a box of #YayHamlet t-shirts, "can you fold?" I asked.

"Of course I can." He tousled my hair, and started to help me.

•••

Hey. I don't like this chapter, it's very light content wise and is mainly me trying to force the ending.

I'm sorry I'm ending it, but, well, it's hard. It's hard to write actual interesting crap, that makes sense, and I know you guys are sad we won't get to see her when Lin's on SNL and at the Hamildoc premiere (hint: YOU CAN ALWAYS REQUEST THOSE VIA ONE SHOT! THATS WHY THE ONE SHOT BOOK EXISTS. IS SO I CAN CONTINUE TO WRITE ABI INTO THE IMPORTANT EVENTS IN LINS LIFE)

To clarify, this isn't the last chapter. Trust me. You'll know when the last chapter is. Okay? Don't freak out.

Love y'all.

Thanks for reading!

- Abi