Ten years ago if you would have told me that I would be where I am today, I would have laughed in your face. I was seventeen years old, and all I could think about was graduating and being free from high school. I had no clue that I’d be married, especially not to Brian Haner, and expecting a baby with him. But I most definitely had no idea that I would be living my life without my brother. Ten years ago I did what every normal teenage girl did. Hung out with my best friend, went shopping, and listened to my brother’s band play. Life may have been easier back then, but I wouldn’t change where my life is today for anything.

I’m Brooklyn Sullivan, little sister of Jimmy “the Rev” Sullivan, late drummer for Avenged Sevenfold. My best friend is Liliana Baker, wife of Zack “Zacky Vengeance” Baker, and little sister to Matt “M. Shadows” Sanders. I’m twenty-seven years old with the same dark hair and big blue eyes as my big brother, only my hair is much longer, halfway down my back when it‘s straight. I’m not as tall as he is though. I’m only about 5’5. I’ve got quite a bit of tattoos, most of them on my sides, back, and shoulders, except the tattoo I got for my brother, which is on my right wrist, so everyone can see it. I co-own a boutique called Karma in Huntington Beach, California with Lily. We sell a variety of different things, including Vengeance University gear and Syn Gates clothing. My husband is Brian Haner, but most people know him as Synyster Gates. We've been married five years, and are expecting our first little bundle of joy in July.

Life hasn’t always been this great. We’ve all had our share of ups and downs, and then there was the tragedy of Jimmy’s passing. I’m going to take you back to where it all began, ten years ago..

Notes

I know this chapter is really short, but it's kind of a prologue. The rest of the story will be much longer!