Emmy Rossum has announced that she’s leaving Shameless after the forthcoming season.

In a lengthy Facebook post published on Thursday afternoon, Rossum offers a touching farewell to the long-running Showtime series. By the sounds of it, the network intends to continue on with season 10 despite her departure.

“The opportunity to play Fiona has been a gift,” she writes. “There are few characters — female or otherwise — as layered and dynamic. She is a mother lion, fierce, flawed and sexually liberated. She is injured, vulnerable, but will never give up. She is living in an economic depression, but refuses to be depressed. She is resourceful. She is loyal. She is brave. I knew it the second I read the pilot script, this was different, this was special. I tirelessly prepped the audition with my coach Terry Knickerbocker. I walked to the appointment in the rain so I looked disheveled. During my third audition, when I got the part IN the room, I literally jumped up and down screaming in joyous relief and disbelief. Quite simply, the last eight years have been the best of my life.”

At the end she writes, “I know you will continue on without me, for now. There is much more Gallagher story to be told. I will always be rooting for my family. Try not to think of me as gone, just think of me as moving down the block.”

It’ll be interesting to see how the show writes out her character. It’s safe to say she’s one of the most important characters on the show.

Update: Said executive producer and showrunner John Wells, “Emmy Rossum will forever be part of the Shameless family. She has been integral to the show’s success, from her wonderful portrayal of Fiona to her leadership role on set, as well as directing multiple episodes of the series. We are hard at work now creating a season nine finale for Shameless which we hope will provide a Gallagher-worthy sendoff for Fiona that honors the great work Emmy has done. It is always bittersweet when an ensemble member decides to move out of the proverbial house, but our door will always remain open for Fiona to return home for a visit, or to move back in. I look forward to continuing the stories of this wildly unpredictable family and all of us on Shameless will miss Emmy and her wonderful Fiona.”

In late 2016 it was reported that the actress was renegotiating her contract so that she’d receive a salary equal to co-star William H. Macy’s. Shockingly, she was receiving less than him. Showtime was reportedly being difficult about giving her the same pay. Though that dispute ended up being resolved, it’s possible that her departure after season 9 somehow comes down to salary.

Shameless season 9 premieres on September 9.