Paramore - The Only Exception

By nightfall, a warm evening lit up by beautiful stars, Rory arrived in front of a colonial era styled mansion; with reddish brown terracotta roofing and smooth white walls. It reminded her of the mansion in Bogotá with its rectangular structure. Except this one wasn't in an excluded and private neighbourhood, it was in the middle of a bustling city.

Instead of a floral courtyard that she was used to, the first level of the mansion donned an outdoor swimming pool and a jacuzzi. It was surrounded by plants and vines weaving around the arched openings and dark wood deck wrapped around the second level of the mansion.

"It's beautiful." She whispered, taking in the entrance with its brass gates and cobblestone floors.

"It is, isn't it?" Jairo chirped carrying her bags inside. "It's my favourite mansion to visit."

"Does anyone live here?" She glanced around - the place was immaculate, sleek and clean.

"Yes, and here they came."

Rory spun in the direction of Jairo's gaze and landed on 2 figures trotting their way. A man and woman, perhaps in their forties and fifties, were dressed rather formal in black slacks and ties, and navy pencil dress.

"Hola, Señora Torres!" The woman, hazel nut hair tied in a neat bun atop her head and light blue eyes. The moment Rory came within arms length, she embraced her as if she had known her for years. "Welcome home."

"Thank you." She replied in confusion. Surprised by the warm welcome.

"Nice to meet you Señora." The man greeted with a nod. He was tall with a shaved head, chocolate eyes and a greying bread. "I'm Daniele and this is my wife Antonella."

"Nice to meet you." Rory smiled settling into the comfortable atmosphere. "I'm Rory."

"We know!" His wife chuckled, lacing her arms with Rory's and leading her away from the entrance. "We were at the wedding!"

She glanced behind her and seeing Jairo and Daniele gathering her bags off the cobblestone floors. Antonella's description of her wedding half a year ago fell on death ears.

"I'll take you to the master bedroom." Antonella informed her.

Nodding, Rory let her take the lead when she observed her surroundings. From the opened wooden doors letting the night air dance in, blowing the light chiffon curtains. Whenever she walked, the open panel doors gave her a peak of the swimming pool outside. Ahead of her, Rory spotted a checkered floor dining hall and wooden staircases with iron railings spiralling upstairs.

They climbed the stairs together while Antonella continued to blabber about the perks of the master bedroom. She opened the double doors with brass hinges revealing a spacious room with a giant bed lined with Egyptian cotton. There were bifold doors that opened onto a wrap around balcony connecting the to the rest of the rooms and providing a beautiful sight of the pools below.

"It's so beautiful." Rory commented, stepping into the balcony here a hammock hung among the rattan outdoor furniture. "I don't understand how Gideon doesn't live here instead."

"It used to be the Torres' family holiday home." Antonella beamed while the gentlemen placed her belongings on the floor. She dismissed them but Rory knew Jairo won't stray far. "Sometimes Gabriela stays here or Catalina."

"Catalina?"

"Your mother in law." Antonella answered then frowned. "I guess you never met her. She hasn't been back to Colombia for years not even for her own son's wedding."

Her last sentences painfully reminded her that her own mother wasn't at her wedding. Then again the wedding wasn't exactly a willing affair nor a happy one.

"I don't think I ever met her or Gabriela." She said as she sat on the soft mattress.

From what she heard, they were often busy - Gabriela anyways since she ran the Torres Empire; the legal way.

The sound of her phone ringing interrupted them. Rory fished into her pocket and Gideon's name flashed on her screen.

"Hello?"

"I miss you."

A chuckled left her lips in small and girlish vibrations. Rory walked to the balcony and leaned over the rails while the breeze brushed against her face. She relaxed, taking in the breathtaking night sky. It was clear with twinkling stars that reflected at the ones in her eyes as she listened to her husband's voice.

"I don't think I can sleep without you." He confessed. "Come back."

"Then don't sleep." She provoked with a roll of her eyes; a smile gracing her lips.

"Okay." He said after a paused.

Rory laughed harder realising he was being deadly seriously.

"Gideon you need to sleep." She told him. "Maybe Azul will sleep with you. How is she anyways?"

"You ask how the cat is but not me? She can't even talk."

She chuckled and turned back into the master bedroom where Antonella had began unpacking her clothes and putting them away.

"I got to go Gideon." She said. "I should help Antonella unpack."

"She's there to look after you."

"I know." Rory sighed. Having people take care of her needs was still something she needed to her used to. "Well, goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Throwing her phone on the mattress, Rory unpacked the rest of the her stuff. When she looked at the closet, it seemed to packed for more than a handful of days. Maybe, subconsciously she had planned to leave once she got a hold of her mother. Whether she wanted to still lingered painfully in the air.

Antonella bid her goodnight and Rory, after a long bath, went to bed. Gideon's earlier confession played in mind; I don't think I can sleep without you, words that made her heart raced out of tune. Rory heard every pulse in her body beat, encasing her in the sound and luring her to sleep.

For long time, she finally slept with little disturbance.

~*~

Since the mansion sat in the middle of the city, the sounds of tourist chitchat, motorcycles and cars, music and vendors wheeling their wagons along the cobblestone road echoed through the open balcony doors. Rory kicked off her sheets and groggily stumbled into the shower.

Stepping into stone tiled bathroom and under the hot shower, she lathered her body with soap. Trailing from her feet to her breasts where a sharp pain seized them the moment she rubbed clean. But, it disappeared as quick as it came. Thus, she showed no concern - she merely scrubbed too hard.

It was a typical simmering hot day - as usual - Rory chose to wear a short light yellow, body hugging playsuit. As she buttoned up the front, the material fitted too snug and became uncomfortable. Her clothes had never fitted like that before. Sighing, she peaked in the mirror unable to identify any changes in her body.

In the end, she chose something loose, that didn't feel like it was suffocating her belly. Clearly, she gained weight and the thought made her self conscious about what she ate. However, the moment the smell of pastries and berries, along with the strong and bitter scent of coffee, had her stomach grumbling in anticipation.

Sitting in the checkered floor dining hall, on a thick dark wood chair and surrounded by antique paintings in gold frames, Rory wolfed down her breakfast. She was completely oblivious to the eyes on her, observing her with a knowing, and rather suspicious, look.

After breakfast, Jairo appeared out of thin air and informed her that the car was ready to leave. Thanking Antonella and Daniele for the meal, she trotted after her bodyguard along the cobblestone path.

As they exited the front door, Rory collided into Jairo's back and his first instinct was to whirl around, with a harsh breath, and steadied her again.

"Señora, I'm so sorry."

"It's fine." Rory reassured him.

Her focused turned to the individual standing in front of them and her eyes widened. Long hair in a high ponytail, pretty blush lips and light eye makeup that complimented her pretty, dark eyes that reminder Rory of Gideon's own.

Luci.

Rory practically threw herself at the woman, embracing her in a tight hug.

"Oh my god, I've been so worried about you!" She cried, "Where have you been?"

Luci's soft chuckles played in her ear and she embraced her back, swing their bodies side to side.

"I just needed some TLC." She admitted with a shrug. After she observed Rory, Luci smiled; sweet and angelic, "You look like you're getting one too. I heard my brother finally let you out of his sight."

"He did but I think it's killing him." Rory joked. It was satisfying; watching Gideon have a taste of his medicine. Although, it was hardly enough for what he had done to her but it was at least something. He deserved a bit of punishment.

"Judging by that look on your face, I think you're enjoying his suffering." Luci laughed, bright and vibrant as if the Luci from a couple of days ago didn't exist. Once her laughter ceased, her face softens and she said, "I should let you go but I hope we can catch up later."

Rory nodded in eager agreement, "We can meet at Café del Mar. I hear it's a popular tourist destination."

"Sounds great!"

~*~

Clínica Cartagena Por El Mar written in striking primary colours; yellow, blue and red. It represented kindergarten building more than a care clinic for the mentally ill. The panel wood building, like the name suggested, stood on a cliff edge over looking the Caribbean Sea.

Rory walked along the path, inhaling the salty sea breeze and the fresh flowers planted in front of the building.

The facility seemed to stretch for miles with spacious gardens that provided different activities throughout the day. Outdoor painting, tea parties, mediation and yoga - the patients all seem so content.

A nurse, in pale blue scrubs, appeared from the sliding doors with outstretch hands.

"Mandy's daughter?" He said in accented English. "I really don't need to ask, you two are the splitting image of each other."

"Thank you." Rory blushed, taking his hand. "I'm Rory."

"Chico, nice to finally meet you. I feel like I already know you." He roared with laughter, throwing his shaved head back as he clutched his stomach.

Rory couldn't help but smile in return.

Chico signed them in and led them through the garden towards the cliff's edge where a swing seat pointed in the direction of the deep blue ocean. On the plush seat was a mop of curly blonde hair.

The two men - Jairo and Chico - kindly waited from a distance as Rory slid into the empty spot next to her mother. Mandy turned her head and Rory's breath lodged in her throat, incapacitating her breathing.

It's barely been a month and Mandy had deteriorated evident by the dark circles framing her eyes, her pale and clampy skin, her blonde hair dull and dying. She appeared so sickly.

"Hi mom." Rory rasped, forcing back the cry threatening to spill from her lips.

"Rory, I knew you were really here."

Her words were slurred and disorganised like she wasn't in her control of her speech. Those emerald eyes, although were staring straight at, felt like they were looking pass her.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better now that you're near."

Mandy reached out her trembling hands and tugged at her daughter'a head, pulling it down on her shoulder. Her closeness was all she needed to clear her jumbled thoughts.

They sat in silence watching the sunlight dance on the water while the waves crashed into the rocks. It wasn't until Mandy gently woke her that Rory realised she had fallen asleep. A hand laid on her stomach while one wrapped itself around her shoulders.

"You've gain some weight."

Rory softly chuckled, "The food here is too good to pass up."

"I don't think it's the food." Mandy whispered quietly that she almost missed it. Almost.

The question was at the tip of her tongue, however, Rory - for unbeknownst to her - couldn't bring herself to ask. Perhaps, she was too afraid of the answer.

"Who was that man you were with?" Her mother inquired. Her eyes darted to the two rings sitting on her left ring finger - from that alone, it was all she needed to know.

Mandy recalled seeing the thick tan lines wrapped around her daughter's rings but no ring present. Until now. When Rory failed to answer, she spoke up; "You're married, aren't you?"

"I can explain." She stammered nervously, not expecting her mother to so forward.

"Are you in love with him?"

Rory tightened her lips - a question that she was desperately trying to avoid. And, an answer she wasn't willing to give. Or, perhaps she didn't want to face the truth and admit her feelings. Tears welled in her eyes as the internal conflict continued to rage on beyond the surface.

"It doesn't matter." Her mother said after an eternity of silence. She faced the ocean, the wind twirling her curls; "I just want you to be happy. My illness has prevented me to give you a good childhood and to be a mother who was there mentally." She turned to face Rory, using the last of her energy to will her body to vocalise her words.

Although soft and quiet, there was a fierce intensity to them. "I know why you're here. You want to take me away and look after me yourself. I don't want you to take care of me, I'm happy here so please let me be; I love it here. I have the beach down the road, good doctors and warm meals and a comfortable bed; and friends!"

Mandy glanced across the lawn at their fellow patients. People who understood her and didn't shun her for those imaginations, disorganised speech and moments were she became unable to function within daily life. They didn't judge for being unable to take care of her own child.

Rory swallowed the lump that held her in choking hold. This was not what she expected. She assumed her mother would be locked in an asylum, heavily sedated and chained to her bed. That's what they used to do to her in the facility her father sent her to.

"Are you happy?"

"I don't know." She admitted, playing with the rings on her finger. "Sometimes I think that I am then I find myself spirally in the darkness and ridden with guilt."

For father and stepmother, and for Henry. And, for allowing herself to open her heart to a man she should've killed when the opportunity came. Guilty for abandoning common sense and choosing to do things that classified her as unintelligent.

She was the poster child of Stockholm Syndrome.

"You were also afraid of the dark even as a child." Her mother teased. She pulled Rory's head closer until their forehead rested against each other. "Happiness exists everywhere even in the darkness, you just have to open eyes and see it."

"You make it sound so easy." She hiccuped in teary sobs.

Even if she embraced the darkness, the guilt would follow feeding itself and getting heavier and bigger. She couldn't love Gideon freely when it sat proudly on her shoulders and pushed her under when she felt a tiny speckle off happiness.

It will always served as a painful reminder.