Chapter 27 – Gutta Barbie
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
GUTTA BARBIE
“We are gathered here today celebrating the life of Brianna Jasmine Berrelli, known as Hood Brat, whose life was cut short due to domestic violence. She leaves behind her parents and a bunch of family and close friends. Hood Brat is gone but never forgotten.”
I broke down to my knees in tears as my best friend for years was laid to rest. I couldn’t believe this shit was happening; it felt like a horrible dream- it was a nightmare.
Never in a million years did I ever think that one of us would be killed this way, by the men that we loved and who were supposed to love us.
War tried to console me, but I was inconsolable.
I lost my friend, my sister, and my family.
She was gone. After today, I was never going to get the chance to see her ever again.
She had died without being able to start a family of her own.
My child was going to be born, never getting the chance to know who its auntie Hood Brat was, and that hurt me to the core.
“Nooooooo! Please no, not my baby!” Her mother cried.
My heart ached. Holly was taking things just as hard; she was crying uncontrollably, and Hitman was doing his best to console her, but it was useless.
Lil Rude had fucked us up by taking Hood Brat from us.
It was so selfish of him to think that he was in control of her life, all because he was jealous of the fact that she was getting to know someone else.
She didn’t deserve to die that way. She had her entire life ahead of her.
I would never forget Hood Gorgeous calling my phone, telling me that Hood Brat was gunned down outside of the corner store down the street from her house and that the killer was her fiancé Lil Rude.
My heart broke in half that day; it changed me for the rest of my life.
“Domestic violence is real; I see it so much. I was a victim myself before meeting Brianna’s father, and somehow I managed to get out of that relationship in time; my daughter wasn’t as lucky.
I want any woman who is battling with domestic violence to know that you are never alone and don’t ever be afraid to walk away and get help.
My daughter tried to walk away and was killed; maybe your story will go differently.
” Brianna’s mother spoke through tears. Holly and I held hands.
We were both all too familiar with domestic violence and trying to get away from our abusers.
I hated that Hood Brat didn’t survive her story, but regardless, she was always a hero in my eyes.
She was strong and resilient and never allowed anyone to stop her from doing the things that she loved.
She stood on her choices in life firmly, and she was a blessing to everyone that she encountered.
Lil Rude was still on the run, hiding out, but his days were numbered. War, Dumpa, Hitman, Holly, and I had everybody looking for that nigga, and I wanted him dead or alive. He was going to pay for the beautiful life that he had taken.
Hood Brat's little cousin sang It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday by Boyz II Men, and I couldn’t hold back my tears.
The song cut me deep; every lyric brought fresh tears down my face.
I was so emotional that I needed to be removed to catch my breath.
I sat in the lobby hyperventilating. War was more concerned with the baby in my stomach.
I was doing the best that I could to try to control my emotions, but it hurt me so badly.
I hated that my emotions were so intense to the point I needed to be carried out, because now I was missing the funeral, which only made me even more emotional.
“I just saw Lil Rude outside!” One of Hood Brat’s family members ran inside screaming.
All the men ran outside, but it was too late; he was gone.
I couldn’t believe he had the nerve and audacity to show his face around here, knowing that he was the reason that she was gone.
I knew that they needed to find him soon, or else I was going to go looking for him myself.
War, Hitman, and Dumpa were left to go searching the area to find him, leaving me with Hood Gorgeous and Holly to watch over me and the baby. This shit felt like a nightmare.
By the time the fellas made it back, it was time to go to the cemetery to have Hood Brat buried.
I was upset knowing that they weren’t able to find Lil Rude, but I was thankful that War was back in time because I really needed him by my side to get through the rest of the day.
The entire ride there, I was silent the whole time.
I didn’t want to talk as memories of Hood Brat played in my head.
I was missing her already; it felt like I was just having a horrible dream.
This shit couldn’t be real. My best friend and sister couldn’t be gone forever; it wasn’t right.
War held me close when we arrived at the cemetery.
My entire body shook as we approached. I listened as they said their final words, “We now commit the body of our loved one to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Hood Gorgeous Holly and I stood side by side holding hands as we said our final goodbyes.
I kissed the red rose that I was holding in my hands before laying it on top of her casket. She was really gone.