The Return to Her Place
The Narcissist resumes spending most days at M.’s apartment. Initially, she’s happy, but soon she feels overwhelmed. She starts to self-harm, attributing it to her depression. She wants him close but struggles with his presence. He notices but says nothing.
Two weeks later, they leave to visit his mother together.
A Happy Trip, Until…
They get along well during the trip, and M. feels fulfilled; his mother even calls M. her future daughter-in-law.
But then, the Narcissist lets slip that all his friends knew about Meduza Girl. M. finds this strange if they only went out a couple of times.
She’s hurt but decides to hold off on discussing it until they’re back.
More Secrets Unravel
Back home, he casually mentions a past visit to the area where Meduza Girl lives, despite previously claiming he’d never been there. He explains it away, saying he was with other friends who live nearby (another lie).
M. soon discovers that her best friend has known about Meduza Girl from the start. This realization intensifies her feelings of betrayal.
He insists it wasn’t serious, but M. feels increasingly isolated and misunderstood.
She self-harms again, overwhelmed by the lies and secrecy.
Taking Control
Determined to break the cycle, M. decides to contact both Uber Girl and Meduza Girl for clarity. She informs the Narcissist of her plan; he’s displeased but offers no alternative.
Uber Girl responds supportively, sharing examples of the Narcissist’s inappropriate messages during his six months living with M., messages that shock but don’t surprise her.
Meduza Girl doesn’t respond.
Later, M. learns that the Narcissist warned his friends not to let Meduza Girl talk to her, claiming M. is “obsessed” and that her well-being could be at risk.
Furious, he accuses M. of being “a horrible person” for contacting these girls, insisting she’s “ruining their lives.” M. replies that Uber Girl seemed relieved to finally clear the air.
For the first time M. sees his strong reaction as a sign that maybe she is on the right track, M. starts to wonder if there’s even more to uncover about Meduza Girl.
The Truth Comes Out
The argument escalates, and M. directly asks if he’s slept with Meduza Girl while still involved with her. He finally admits he has.
Heartbroken, M. tells him to leave.
He refuses.
She tries to push him toward the front door, but he stands his ground.
Desperate, she continues pushing, begging him to go.
He corners her in the kitchen.
Terrified, she warns that she’ll defend herself if he doesn’t leave.
Ignoring her, he continues to push.
She grabs a knife from the drawer, holding it down by her side, pointed toward the floor. She knows full well she’s bluffing and that she’s powerless.
He seems scared, and only then does he leave.
A Confession
Later, she goes outside for a smoke to clear her head.
He finds her and offers an explanation: he claims he only slept with Meduza Girl once and he insists they only went out a couple of times (still a lie).
He insists he withheld the truth to protect her mental health. M., feeling emotionally drained, chooses to believe him.
Attempting to Move Forward
M. wants to put the past behind them, believing he’s finally committed. She loves him deeply, still viewing him as her “perfect match.” Yet, her body remains tense, her mind unsettled. Assuming it’s her depression resurfacing, she increases her medication.
Following her best friend’s suggestion, she arranges a couple’s therapy session. He initially agrees then changes his mind, but tells her friend she decided to cancel it.
The Final Revelation
Haunted by doubts, M. looks through the Narcissist’s phone, uncovering a timeline that shatters her: Meduza Girl was already in his life before he blamed M. for their breakup. She realizes they’ve been seeing each other for nearly three months – far longer than his “couple of dates” claim, all while continuing to share intimate moments with M.
She also realizes that he was referring to M. as his ex when speaking to his friends, even while they were still together. She sees how he distorted the truth, telling only his side of the story and purposely leaving out details so that everyone would see her as completely insane and would see him as the good guy, the perfect guy.
Shattered and worn down, M. confronts him.
He lashes out, angry that she looked through his phone, not adressing her concerns.
She is not surprised, she didn’t expect anything else.
She asks him to leave; he refuses.
M. retreats to the bathroom and, in utter despair, attempts to end her life.