Kristian Alfonso decided to leave Days of Our Lives after 37 years after she was told her character would be temporarily written off the show

ETonline

Alfonso tells ET that "at that moment I thought to myself, you know what, it's time for a change and it was the perfect moment to make that decision. I was taken aback when (executive producer Ken Corday) said that they wanted, he and (producer) Albert wanted to take me off camera for four to five months. It was not something that had ever been discussed but that's what it was, and to come back in five to six months, or four to five months -- whatever that time frame was -- I just thought, you know what, it's time to really write a new chapter. I've had an incredible run there. I've had so many amazing friends and memories. I cannot say enough how I'll miss so many people working there and working with them, but they are in my life and we do socialize, but like I said, I think it's time."