Yes, so the trick in a small town is to act one's normal self, so that nobody believes the narcissist. If people would rather believe the narcissist, then they don't really matter anyway, or we shouldn't let them matter. Just be true to oneself, is all we can do, until the narcissist is just a faded memory.

Oooohhh Fer sure. When my ex left me for another woman, he told everybody in our circle it was because I drank...
I had at the time some equilibrium issues from a Stroke....which he was there (married to me) when it happened, and was well aware no booze was involved.
In fact I have been a life-long teetotaler except for some Reunite in the 70's, which only reinforced my decision that I neither like the effects, the price, or the taste of booze.
CertIainly showed me how truly nasty he was!!!
And imagine their surprise when she suddenly got divorced too and they married 5 months later.....