Author's Note: I cannot thank you all enough for the support you provided me. This is my first full-length, completed fanfic. Thirteen chapters, six and a half years, dozens of reviews and favorites later, this amazing journey has finally come to an end. Thanks to all of you who continue to support the HA! and have hope that TJM might happen, in some form or another, one of these days.
Many may wonder why I chose such an unusual plotline to bring Arnold and Helga together. The truth is, when we reach adolescence, the reality of the world often comes crashing down on our shoulders. While our problems don't necessarily get worse in adolescence, we often discover the significance of them (ex. Lila's father's drug habit, Gerald's fear of not being good enough for Phoebe.) I wanted to show how I thought the characters would handle this change, and how it would affect their friendships. I honestly do not think Arnold and Helga could form a real relationship until they were old enough to discover what it really means, or rather, what it would mean if they lost each other.
When I began writing this fanfic in 2006, I thought that I might be exaggerating a little in how much Helga was shunned and bullied after being almost raped. However, now, in 2013, with the high-profile cases of Steubenville, Rehteah Parsons, and others, we are now finding out that that these things—notably, survivors being harassed by their classmates and blamed for their rape, especially if the rapist is "popular"—are all too common. The situation of Arnold and Helga being drugged is, of course, highly unlikely, but researchers do find that rapists often escalate in their crimes. While I am not of the opinion that it would take a tragedy to bring Arnold and Helga together, it did make for a more exciting and interesting story. But, as you know, this is not "one of those depressing stories"; ultimately the genre is in the COMFORT and the redeeming power of love.
The counselor in me must write this: If you need help, help is always available. You can contact the Rape, Abuse, and Incest Network at , or call 1-800-656-HOPE.
Thank you for reading!