Rudy looked at the street name he passed, Atlanta Street. The GPS indicated he was minutes away from Brenda's house, his ex-girlfriend. Her younger brother's birthday party was in full swing, and though he was not invited, the urge to see her was unstoppable.
Rudy in the white T-shirt and dark jeans, he stood outside her new place, swallowed by mixed feelings of anxiety, remorse, and pent-up rage. Just as he approached the front door, loud music resonated from the backyard, igniting an even greater feeling of rejection.
Here goes nothing, he murmured under his breath and rang the doorbell. Brenda nephew answered the door and led me to the backyard to where Brenda was.
Rudy moved through the crowd of people partying. Not one familiar face. His eyes searched for Brenda. When he finally found her, anger hit him like a rogue wave, instantly drowning his residual happiness. There she was, draped over the arm of another man, laughing joyously, a sight that was his alone to enjoy, now brutally taken from him.
Fuelled by rage and an impulse to assert his authority, Rudy walked straight towards Brenda, glaring at the stranger.
Rudy: what’s up Brenda?
Brenda: hi Rudy what are you doing here?
Rudy: I was in the area and I wanted to tell your brother happy birthday and see you as well.
Brenda: well that was nice of you to think of his birthday but you could’ve called or texted. Because you know I have a new man in my life and by you coming by here unannounced is slap in my face and his so you need to leave.
Yeah just like she said you need to leave.
This party ain't for you, Brenda's new man, Aaron, confronted Rudy with respect and pride, staking his claim.
Rudy smirked, a painful mockery for Aaron. Then, Rudy said go sit down little boy before you won’t see your birthday aggressively, that just made Aaron approach him, then Aaron reached into his back pocket, withdrawing a chrome and black .380 pistol grip gun, pointing it straight at Aaron.
The crowd scattered, cries and screams permeated the festive atmosphere, instantly morphing it into a chaotic battlefield. Brenda gasped, horrified at the man she once thought she knew.
Rudy's venomous anger mirrored in his intense gaze, Stay away from her, she all mine boy!
But Aaron was tougher than leather. Not for a moment did he succumb to Rudy's threats. With astonishing agility, Aaron took the gun straight out Rudy’s hand and handed it to Brenda, turning the tables. Then sent a rapid right-hook to Rudy’s jaw. The punch, fierce and determined, knocked Rudy off his feet, laying him unconscious in an instant.
The sounds of approaching sirens started wailing, and Aaron moved swiftly to protect Brenda. The birthday party had been reduced to chaos, the birthday boy's innocence stolen too soon, Bella was shocked into silence, and the music that played seemed now to sound an ironic hymn.
Through all this chaos, Aaron resolute bravery would always remain engraved in their minds as he fought to keep Brenda safe, regardless of the consequences. The end of that day might have marked a new chapter in their life, reminding them that the past should remain just that - the past.
2 years later Brenda died from health complications.