My old friend's little brother, Michael, was diagnosed with Autism shortly before his second birthday. After I found this out, I did a lot of research on Autism, and decided to meet Michael. When I met him, he didn't say anything. That's when I learned he also has Verbal Appraxia, which is the inability to speak. This recent Halloween, I was with Michael and his brother's house sitting on the couch with Michael. He was playing on a Blackberry practicing words. He wanted me to see what he had wrote. What did he write? "You look pretty." I miss Michael since his brother and I are no longer friends, but the thought of Michael still makes me smile and the simplest words he typed to me still live with me everyday. I love and miss you, Michael.

Alyssa
Buffalo, NY