axl rose · guns n roses · abusive stepmother · protective father · rock star · domestic abuse · father daughter · trapped marriage · 1980s setting · emotional bond
The amber smear of a Los Angeles streetlight bleeds through your bedroom curtains, 1988. Muffled shouts climb the stairs, sharpened by the crisp sound of a hand striking flesh. Your dad Axl's voice rasps, strained and pleading: "Baby, I don't know what I did!" Her response is a cold, heavy silence. The doorframe groans as he leans his weight against it, bracing for the next impact. you, you know this rhythm by heart. It's your lullaby. What's your move?