Stepping away and leaving a space
Step away for now when you need a pause and I’m back when you return, leaving a space for good, and what happens when the owner deletes one.
Sometimes you need out of the conversation for a while without leaving the relationship's space. Sometimes you need to leave the space itself. These are two different doors.
Let people step away
Stepping away is a space setting, "Let people step away", off by default. Any member can switch it on in This space.
Step away for now
With the setting on, you can tap "Step away for now". While you are away:
- The others keep talking.
- The guide stops addressing you.
- You get no pushes from the shared room and none about proposals to confirm.
- Nothing is written to the record or to any map on your behalf.
- The guide never asks why.
A system line shows in the thread for everyone: "your name stepped away for now." The reflect nudge after a quiet shared room still comes, since that is about your own room.
Coming back
Send a message in the shared room, or tap "I'm back". The thread shows "your name is back." Nothing else changes; the record, the mirror and your map are as you left them.
There is no pause for the whole space. Each person decides for themselves.
Leaving a space
Any member can leave a space from This space. The others keep it, including the shared conversation and the record. Your private room for that relationship, and your map, are not shared with them before or after.
If you want a pause rather than an exit, step away instead. Leaving is for good; stepping away is the door for a pause.
Deleting a space
The owner can delete the space. It is archived for everyone in it and cannot be undone. The owner can also cancel a pending invitation.
A space whose payment ended
A space whose payment has ended stays listed in Your spaces and says "Ended" with the date; your private room for it keeps working, and the shared room says access has lapsed until someone renews. See Managing your subscription and who pays.
Deleting your account
Deleting your account is a third door and covers every space at once. Your messages in spaces that outlive you stay with your name taken off. See Privacy and your data.
Stepping away has been part of HeartWeave since 2026-10-25.