If you were already heartbroken by the news of Kobe and Gianna Bryant‘s passing (and who wasn’t), you may not be prepared for this speech.
Vanessa Bryant took the stage early in the public memorial at the Staples Center and did one of the most difficult things we can imagine. In front of 20,000 people — and tens of thousands more watching on the livestream — she said goodbye.
Related: Vanessa Has Filed A Wrongful Death Lawsuit
She started with Gigi, saying only:
“My baby girl.”
And then having to pause and collect herself before talking about how the late 13-year-old daughter was “always thoughtful” and “always kissed me goodnight and kissed me good morning.”
“There were a few occasions where I was absolutely tired from being up with Bianka and Capri and I had thought she’d left for school without saying goodbye. I’d text and say, ‘No kiss?’ And Gianna would reply with, ‘Momma, I kissed you. You were asleep, and I didn’t want to wake you.'”
Just those tiny little moments, those little seemingly insignificant acts of love are so, so important. Vanessa also said:
“She was daddy’s girl but I know she loved momma, and she would always show me and tell me how much she loved me. She was one of my very best friends.”
Later the grieving mother spoke about the future which was taken from her. She lamented:
“We will not be able to see Gigi go to high school with Natalia and ask her how her day went. We didn’t get the chance to teach her how to drive a car. I won’t be able to tell her how gorgeous she looks on her wedding day…”
It was this thought which made Vanessa stop again and start to cry.
She pushed ahead:
“We’ll never get to see my baby girl walk down the aisle… or have a father daughter-dance with her daddy, dance on the dance floor with me, or have babies of her own. Gianna would’ve been an amazing mommy. She was very maternal ever since she was very little. Gigi would have most likely become the best player in the WNBA. She would have made a huge difference for women’s basketball; Gigi was motivated to change the way everyone viewed women in sports.”
We absolutely believe that about Gigi, as did everyone else who knew her as the room erupted in applause.
Vanessa continued:
“I’m still so proud of Gianna. She made a difference and was kind to everyone she met in the 13 years she was here on Earth. Her classmates shared many fond memories of Gianna with us, and those stories reminded me that Gianna loved and showed everyone that no act of kindness is ever too small to make a difference in someone’s life… She was so full of life and had so much more to offer this world. I cannot imagine life without her.”
She ended her words to her daughter by saying:
“Mommy, Natalia, Bianca, Capri, and Daddy love you so much, Gigi. I will miss your sweet handmade cards, your sweet kisses, and your gorgeous smile. I miss you. All of you. Every day. I love you.”
Then Vanessa moved on to her late husband, saying:
“Now for my soulmate…”
She began:
“He was mine. He was my everything. Kobe and I had been together since I was 17 and a half years old. I was his first girlfriend, his first love, his wife, his best friend, his confidant, and his protector. He was the most amazing husband. Kobe loved me more than I could ever express or put into words… He would do anything for me. I have no idea how I deserved a man who loved and wanted me more than Kobe.”
Vanessa went on to paint a portrait of a side of Kobe no one else got to see — the sweet romantic.
“He was loving, adoring, and romantic. He was truly the romantic one in our relationship and looked forward to Valentine’s Day and our anniversaries every year.”
Realizing again Vanessa had to go through this Valentine’s Day without him… that just breaks our hearts all over again.
“He planned special anniversary trips and a special traditional gift for every year of our marriage. He even handmade my most treasured gifts. He just thought outside the box and was so thoughtful, even while working hard to be the best athlete. He gifted me the actual notebook and the blue dress Rachel McAdams wore in The Notebook movie. When I asked him why he chose the blue dress, he said it was because it’s the scene when Allie comes back to Noah. We had hoped to grow old together like the movie.”
Oh no. That… that just broke us. We are broken.
Watch the entire emotional speech if you can (below):
[Image via Los Angeles Times/YouTube/WENN/Instar.]
Related Posts
-
Categories
