Nina Dobrev has announced that she will be leaving The Vampire Diaries at the end of the season, and has subsequently shocked her fans.

While Nina Dobrev said she is moving on to the next exciting chapter in her life, it’s still hard for some to say goodbye to her character, Elena.

Nina Dobrev revealed in a heartfelt goodbye via Instagram that she always knew Elena would only be around for six seasons.

However, some are speculating, with due cause, that Nina Dobrev might just want to be away from Ian Somerhalder.

Could they be right?

Dearest TVD Family, I've just spent the most beautiful weekend on Lake Lanier in Georgia with my own TVD Family, the cast and crew of The Vampire Diaries. I want to be the first to tell you that it wasn't just a holiday celebration, it was a goodbye party. I always knew I wanted Elena's story to be a six season adventure, and within those six years I got the journey of a lifetime. I was a human, a vampire, a doppelganger, a crazy immortal, a doppelganger pretending to be human, a human pretending to be a doppelganger. I got kidnapped, killed, resurrected, tortured, cursed, body-snatched, was dead and undead, and there's still so much more to come before the season finale in May. Elena fell in love not once, but twice, with two epic soulmates, and I myself made some of the best friends I'll ever know and built an extended family I will love forever. There's more to come before we wrap this up, and I promise you'll get to hear all about my experiences over the next month as we approach the season finale (I have given an exclusive interview for the June issue of SELF Magazine that I am excited for you to see!), but until then I invite you to hop on the roller coaster ride that is Elena Gilbert's life and join me as I celebrate her and prepare to say goodbye to her — and to my work family — as I move on to the next chapter of my life. I want to share this goodbye with all of you (this weekend's pictures were just the beginning). You, the wonderful fandom who gave more love, support and passion than anyone could have ever imagined seven years ago, when a young Degrassi girl from Canada showed up in LA to audition for 'that Twilight TV show.' 😉 I love you all. Fasten your seatbelts. If you think you know what's coming, you don't. Love, Nina

A photo posted by Nina Dobrev (@ninadobrev) on Apr 6, 2015 at 5:01pm PDT

Nina Dobrev’s statement reads,

“I always knew I wanted Elena’s story to be a six season adventure, and within those six years I got the journey of a lifetime. I was a human, a vampire, a doppelganger, a crazy immortal, a doppelganger pretending to be human, a human pretending to be a doppelganger. I got kidnapped, killed, resurrected, tortured, cursed, body-snatched, was dead and undead, and there’s still so much more to come before the season finale in May.”

My mentor. My inspiration. My hero … @JuliePlec

A photo posted by Nina Dobrev (@ninadobrev) on Apr 4, 2015 at 4:36pm PDT

She continued, “Elena fell in love not once, but twice, with two epic soulmates, and I myself made some of the best friends I’ll ever know and built an extended family I will love forever.”

Nina Dobrev then added, “There’s more to come before we wrap this up, and I promise you’ll get to hear all about my experiences over the next month as we approach the season finale…but until then I invite you to hop on the roller coaster ride that is Elena Gilbert’s life and join me as I celebrate her and prepare to say goodbye to her — and to my work family — as I move on to the next chapter of my life.”

Sweet words from Nina Dobrev!

#TVDFamily @katgrahampics #LakeLife

A photo posted by Nina Dobrev (@ninadobrev) on Apr 4, 2015 at 4:26pm PDT

However, a source close to the situation told Hollywood Life, “The reason Nina quit The Vampire Diaries is because she finds it too awkward to be on set with Ian now that they’ve split. She’s known since June that she was going to quit the show and that the 6th season would be her last.”

The source added, “Especially when Nikki [Reed] and Ian got engaged in December — that solidified her decision. It’s not about Nina pursuing bigger roles. It’s just because she can’t stand to work on set with Ian every day.”

PhotoShootin' … Hair/Makeup #BehindTheScenes @hairbyadir @byjakebailey

A photo posted by Nina Dobrev (@ninadobrev) on Mar 28, 2015 at 12:40pm PDT

We may never know the truth, but Nina Dobrev sounds pretty upbeat about moving on.

What do you think is the real reason for Nina Dobrev’s departure from Vampire Diaries?