Imagine finding your friend murdered. First, you're going to be treated as a suspect. After the police determine your weren't involved, you now have to help them. You fear for your safety because the killer is still on the loose before he's finally arrested. After the case is built, you're brought in to testify for the prosecution as the defense does their best to put your credibility into question. Now imagine being a child when that happened. 

This was Terrible Rita's traumatic experience. She was a teenager who'd befriend a woman ten years her elder - one who had already a child and divorced her abusive husband. Both were already well versed in survival when  their paths crossed, and they developed a brief, but meaningful, friendship. 

Bernadette's short life came to an end in 1974, but Terrible Rita has kept her memory alive since. Today's fucked up story is about domestic violence and murder, but most of all, it's about friendship.