Hi everyone,
I apologize for getting your hopes up about an early post but I feel the need to clarify a few things. Some of my readers have expressed concerns in regard to the last couple of chapters and I would like to address them.
While I made it clear early on that Bella is sixteen, though really she may as well be seventeen, I failed to clarify Jasper's physical age. I am going by the age at which he was turned in the books, which is nineteen. Some readers have expressed some discomfort with what happened between Bella and Jasper in chapter 10 because I failed to clarify this.
I need all of you to know that it was never my intention to make anyone uncomfortable. Abuse of any kind, especially that inflicted on children, is wrong and unacceptable. It is something that I take very seriously. I have personally seen how this affects victims and the people who love them. It destroys lives and I do not condone it in any way, shape, or form. I would never intentionally write a story or a character that condones that; especially not Jasper of all people, whom I love dearly. You will see from later chapters (which were written weeks ago, before these issues were brought to my attention) that this is very clearly the case.
Admittedly, the first few chapters have established a distinctly sexual tone but I assure you that sex is a secondary theme of Longing. What happened between Bella and Jasper in chapter 10 was an explicit situation obviously, but it wasn't really about sex even though Jasper thought it was. His denial and confusion are masking his real desires from him - those for love and connection in the way of a mate. I realize that there are other ways for people to connect but there is a lot more to Bella than meets the eye, and once Bella's side of things are delved into things will become much clearer. I would go into more detail but I don't want to give anything away.
I hope you can understand all of the things I felt needed to be discussed in this author's note, and why it was important for me to do so. I also hope you can be patient with me, where I'm taking things with this story, and how I am choosing to tell it.
Please also know that I appreciate anyone and everyone's opinions. People have every right to feel the way they feel and I would never presume to suggest otherwise. If you have questions or comments feel free to private message me though I would also appreciate that you phrase those questions and comments kindly and respectfully.
Thank you,
JoyfulyetHesitantPen
