Cassie wrote a long note on Instagram to clear the air on rumors circulating earlier in the week about her relationship status with Colton. On Wednesday evening, Cassie posted a selfie with Colton right after his season of “The Bachelor” ended and they were “no longer in hiding.”

As a heads-up to her followers reading the note, Cassie wrote in the caption, “Warning, it’s pretty long (actually I probably could have written even more, since it’s hard to put the perfect words to your feelings). TLDR: Public relationships have challenges. Colton and I are good & happy.”

Cassie’s four-page note starts off with her wanting to “take the time to be very transparent” about her relationship. She wrote, “This past year has been nothing short of amazing and life changing. I’m so grateful for all the new things that have come into my life, but it also meant a lot of change and change isn’t always easy.”

The speech pathology student acknowledged that she knows her life is subject to scrutiny and “comes with the territory” thanks to her time on the show and being “in the public eye.” Cassie called this “an extra hurdle.”

She continued, “Colton and I are very happy and our relationship is in a good place. Is our relationship perfect? No, it is very normal with its ups and downs and compromises. Despite the microscope on our relationship, we are trying to stay focused on what is important and grow in the direction of getting stronger and closer every day.”

She acknowledges that there’s “craziness that sometimes surrounds us” but they manage to “stay grounded.” She added, “We are good!”

Cassie gave a special shout-out to the Randolph and Underwood families and thanked them for supporting her amid all of her responsibilities that she’s juggling. “Sometimes it is overwhelming to balance a new relationship, new work and social opportunities, the demands of grad school/internships, friends, family and the public eye.” All of this has sometimes “made me question what the heck I am doing.”

She wrote, “Colton and I are happy in our relationship and taking things at our own pace. At the end of the day, this is about the two of us and our real lives.”

Cassie wrote about the stresses of their relationship, including “unhealthy pressure” they feel from strangers and people analyzing their every move. “I totally understand WHY our relationship has this scrutiny, but it doesn’t take away the fact that it adds an extra layer that doesn’t exist in a typical relationship,” she said.

The Huntington Beach, California, native concluded her note by talking about how she and Colton just try to focus on the present and being together in the moment. “We are both learning so much in this and more than anything, we are both right where we want to be…happy…thankful…learning…growing!” she wrote.

Many former Bachelors and Bachelorettes praised Cassie for her heartfelt note. Her boyfriend Colton wrote, “Relationships can be hard at times, but loving you is easy.”

Kaitlyn Bristowe, who faced a ton of criticism during her season of “The Bachelorette,” added, “People see 10 second Instagram story clips, out of a 24 hour day. People see beautiful, happy photos. BECAUSE... No one wants to see the arguments and the tough times. It would be uncomfortable. Doesn’t mean they don’t happen. It’s part of growth in a relationship.”

Becca Kufrin called Cassie’s note “spot on and so well said.”

Cassie and Colton changed up the rules of “The Bachelor” a bit when they left as boyfriend and girlfriend rather than fiancée and fiancé. Colton has said before that Cassie will have her own engagement ring “one day,” but not quite yet.