Annie Callie Mancuso

Annie’s face is as vivid in my mind now as it was four years ago. I can see the passion for life that sparkled in her eyes and the crazy, intense grin that stretched across her face like a bridge across the sea. Although my experience with Annie may not seem like one of profound importance, I believe that the moments I spent with her were moments that have greatly influenced my life.

Every day at three o’clock, I used to walk from my school to the university that my mom was attending and wait for her classes to finish. The day that I met Annie is clearly etched in my memory. It was a Wednesday in mid-October, and the leaves were just beginning to form a carpet on the ground. I had only been waiting for an hour when my mom came sprinting out of the gym.

“Cal!” she yelled. “Hurry, I need another person.”

I ran in after her and stopped when I reached the doors. Every corner of the large room was filled with childlike adults yelping with joy. Laughter echoed off of the walls and smiles were abundantly scattered on everyone’s faces. My eyes wandered over to the basketball court where my mom was standing next to a short, stout, and fairly intimidating woman.

“This is Annie,” my mom said to me, pointing to the woman next to her, “and...