Interesting that you share the "Mirror Five" image. I compare a relationship with the severe N. to a mirror:

Have you ever walked into a restaurant that had mirrors on all the walls? When you first walk in, the place seems larger than it really is. If you are busy paying attention to the fancy decor, you might not notice the mirrors. Then when you reach out to pull up a chair, you BASH your hand against hard, cold glass. It hurts. Then you realize these aren't real chairs - just reflections of real fancy chairs.

The restaurant is much smaller than it appears. And if you bash your hand there enough, you don't want to eat in a restaurant with mirrored walls ever again.



OK, we have established that we like to eat fancy. This is why we are attracted to the N. It's just a matter of developing the ability to detect mirrors in a room. If it seems too good to be true, or too coincidental that you and the N. like so many similar things, if you sense a red flag and immediately disregard it by thinking "surely I am imagining" or "I MUST be wrong"... these are big warnings. And if we heed the warnings, the N. sees us react or pull away and it gives him the clue that you aren't a pushover. He'll move along to an easier target.