But this time, the game didn’t go as planned. This time, the reaction wasn’t emotional. There was no chasing, no pleading, and no desperate need for clarity. Instead, the energy was mirrored right back—silence met silence, distance met distance. And let me tell you, nothing rattles a narcissist more than realizing their usual tricks don’t work.
Then came the shift: a random text out of nowhere. “Hey,” followed by “How are you?” or “Hope you’re okay.” The bait was set, but there were no bites—no instant response, no rush to ease their curiosity. And that’s when the test started. Next came the guilt trips: “Did I do something wrong?” Oh, now the narcissist wanted answers. The silence was unbearable. This wasn’t what was supposed to happen. The expectation was panic, not poise; desperation, not detachment.
See, in the beginning, the narcissist sized things up. They saw kindness, empathy, and a big heart, mistaking it for weakness. They expected the usual cycle: create the emotional high, withdraw, then enjoy the pursuit. But this time, the script was flipped. The narcissist was left sitting in their own discomfort, wondering what went wrong.
Listen up: this isn’t about playing childish games or getting even. This is about stopping the cycle. The narcissist thrives on control, on keeping others dangling by a thread, always guessing, always chasing. And the moment that chase stops, the whole game crumbles. If someone isn’t putting in even half the effort, why waste another second? Relationships should be mutual—both sides showing up, giving, investing. But when it’s all smoke and mirrors from the start, that’s a rigged game, and the only way to win is not to play.
The second a narcissist gets a taste of their own medicine, things get real uncomfortable, real fast. And if there’s one thing a narcissist can’t handle, it’s discomfort. First, the guilt trip: “You’ve changed; you don’t care anymore.” Then the jealousy bait: “I’ve been so busy lately; things feel different between us.” Classic moves—transparent, predictable manipulation at its finest.
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