To me "I need space* is saying it's over,I guess he dosnt hv the balls to say it to ur face

I will advise you stop deleting his messages,years back I had similar issue,I hid it from my friend which cost me our friendship,thought I was doing her good I.e saving her from heart break didn't know I was creating a wrong impression about my self,you have to walk up to her,explain and use the messages as evidence,don't allow her noticing from his end first,because he might turn the story around and her first question will be*why didn't u tell me,I thought we were friends*