Leave/Return
Chapter 4
Not Everything That Leaves Is Lost
You don’t have to explain the moment you walked away.
You don’t owe anyone the story of your silence.
Sometimes you leave to breathe.
Sometimes you leave to listen.
You can leave gently.
You can leave loud.
You can leave for no reason but your body said, “Go.”
And when you return—if you return—let it be on your own terms.
Let it be a reunion, not a reentry.
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Intended Use: For moments when you need to leave something—a space, a conversation, a dynamic
Length: ~2.5 min
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You’re allowed to leave.
Even if nothing’s “wrong.”
Even if no one else gets it.Close your eyes, or soften your gaze.
Feel your feet.Say to yourself:
“I don’t need to wait for harm to step away.”
Take a breath.
Let this breath be a door opening.
If you need a reason, choose one.
If you don’t, choose breath.With your next exhale, imagine a door closing gently behind you.
You don’t need to slam it.
You don’t need to explain.Whisper:
“This is not rejection. This is self-respect.”Step away.
Or stay still and feel the shift.You’ve already left.
Now you get to decide what you move toward.
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Intended Use: To support healthy return after absence, silence, or pause
Length: ~3 min
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You don’t have to come back all at once.
You can arrive in pieces.Begin with your breath.
Let it remind you:
You’re not who you were when you left.Close your eyes. Picture the space you’re returning to.
Ask:
What version of me does this space expect?Now ask:
Who do I want to bring back?You get to choose.
You get to bring boundaries.
You get to bring softness.
You get to bring joy or nothing at all.Whisper:
“I return on my terms.”Let that be your shield and your compass.
And if you find that return still costs too much—
you’re allowed to leave again.You’re allowed to keep practicing return until it feels like home.