Hi.

I have been reading Fanfiction for a little over 6 years and began writing 4 years ago.

I would say that I found fanfiction in the darkest time of my life, and it provided relief and distraction. As the years passed, it provided more than that. It provided friendship and a sense of community. At the same time, I found a sickness growing in me. I was reaching for content I hadn't before, and the distraction grew so great I almost lost my job, my friends and my family.

For a long time, I lost myself, and fanfiction became my greatest comfort. To both read and write.

First and foremost, there is absolutely nothing wrong with fanfiction. I commend anyone who puts themselves out there and publishes their creative thoughts!

That said, it brought out something in me I hadn't expected, and don't like. I'm not infallible, and I know I fail at many things. I've tried to give up fanfiction before, but I've kept my story and read stories here and there that were light but would always come back to the same content, and the same feeling would return.

This update is to say that on 31st July 2019, I will be deleting my fanfiction account completely, including this body of work.

I have already deleted all future updates I had saved, and any plans for this story. It will not continue.

To those that have followed this story since I originally posted the first chapter, I'm sorry to leave it where it is, but I need to do this. I've had a think about the content of my story, and I have saved it in PDF form in case anyone wants a copy for whatever reason but I must be very clear in saying I have NO intention to ever come back to this story, or fanfiction at all.

I wouldn't say I was 'in the dark' and now I've 'found the light'. Honestly, I'm still very much in the dark and not in a great place, but I recognise that in essence, fanfiction has only ever provided me with a distraction. I don't want to waste my life on distractions. I am not a writer, nor had I ever hoped or wanted to be. It doesn't come naturally, it's a lot of work and the only enjoyment I get out of it, is following the story.

I am first and foremost an avid reader. Even if I deleted AAL and was done with writing altogether, I know that what I read on fanfiction has never done any more than distract me. Sometimes, it doesn't even entertain me.

I am not writing this to encourage others to do the same. We all come to ffn at different stages in life, and I hope for some people it is more for them than it is for me.

Thank you for your support over the years. If you are interested in getting a copy of AAL by pdf, please contact me before 31st of July, as I will be deleting the PDF as well. If you would like to re-write or continue writing the story, have at it. All yours.

Best wishes to you all

Naomi