What is this game?

Moving On // Disengagement is a solo journaling game about coming to terms with an incredibly painful breakup, or in the ending of a relationship, that uses the Carved from Brindlewood mystery framework and a standard deck of tarot cards. This game will ask you to reflect on an impactful romantic relationship, real or otherwise, and the faults of all parties involved. This game will ask you to reflect on those faults, and what caused the relationship to end. This game will ask you to reflect on that ending and, ideally, help you come to terms with it. It is my hope that you will find meaning and purpose in that ending.

Why is this game?

On October 18th, 2023, I met the love of my life. They are the most incredible person I’d ever met, and the most beautiful human being on this planet. On March 19th, 2024, we proposed to one another. We had been living together for a number of months before that. Our wedding date was set for October 18th, 2027. On July 1st, 2024, another woman was added to our relationship. She is an incredible person and beautiful in her own right. She was in an abusive relationship at the time, and it was hard to accept that and move forward with our own relationship despite that. In October of 2024 we both moved into her house with her after the abusive now-ex had moved out. On February 15th, 2025, the day after valentine’s day, the stress of so many rapid changes and the fact that I had been drifting away from both of them caused me to have one of the worst mental breakdowns I’ve had in years. On February 16th, 2025, they both broke up with me. A week later I moved out of their house and back in with my parents, one of which is an incredible parent and the other one of my biggest abusers. At each of their requests, I kept contact with my ex-fiancee and cut contact with my ex-girlfriend. On March 8th, 2025, I cut contact with my ex-fiancee even though all I want is to stay in their life. I did this so I could focus on myself and healing, instead of desperately trying to maintain a dying friendship. This game is the result of me needing to write, needing to vent, and needing to find a way to move on. I started work on this game on March 14th, 2025. As of writing I’m still healing, I’m still learning, and I’m still stuck in that headspace of loss. I miss them both terribly, though admittedly one more than the other, which is something I can’t help but feel shame over.

Who is this game for?

This game is for those who have loved and lost. For those who want to love and lose. For those who have found their soulmate and lost them to the waves of life. For those who are lonely. For those who are happier without them. For those who are worse off without them. For those who feel like they won’t ever love again. For those who desperately need someone in their corner. For those who need to reflect. For those who want to be better. For those who don’t need to be better. For those who will be better, someday. For those whose beds are colder without them. For those whose hearts ache. This game is for everyone, and this game is for no one. This game is for me. This game is for you. I hope it helps you as much by playing it as it is helping me by writing it.

Where can you play this game?

You can play this game anywhere you can comfortably and safely write and record responses. You can play this game anywhere you can comfortably and safely pull tarot cards from your medium of choice (physical, digital, mental, etc.). You can play this game anywhere you can comfortably and safely roll two six-sided dice.

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This game was originally published in the April 2025 edition of Sprigs and Kindling.

Moving On // Disengagement © 2025 by STEPH INFECTION is licensed under CC BY 4.0