A video has gone viral that'll warm the hearts of everyone who watches.
Diane Stroud decided to videotape an unexpected reunion between her 11-year-old son, Stevie, and his best friend, Owen, whom he's known since kindergarten. The friends both used to live in Chicago but remained close even after Owen moved to Missouri.
Because of travel restrictions, they hadn't seen each other in a long time. Stevie didn't think that Owen would be in the back seat of his mom's car when he was being picked up from school, nor would Owen have been there had Stevie's mom not planned something extra special to lift his spirits.
According to Stevie, Owen's surprise visit came at the perfect time.
Stevie's reaction when he realizes who's in the car is unbeatable. "What are you doing here?" he asks, puzzled. "You just made my day. I've had the worst day ever. What are you doing here?" Owen's response is simply perfect.
"I'm visiting you in Chicago," he says, matter-of-factly. "That's what I'm doing here." While the two have stayed in touch, it's been two years since they've seen each other in person. For kids, that's a lot — they were just 9 at the time they last saw each other. That time around, Stevie visited Owen at his new house.
"I feel like I'm dreaming," Stevie told his friend. It's a reminder of the power of friendship. Sometimes, all it takes is a familiar face to make us feel like we're back in control of our lives. Owen couldn't have arrived on a better day.
"Within six months or so of them moving away, Stevie said what he wanted for his birthday was to see Owen, so we surprised him with a visit," Stevie's mom told Good Morning America. "Then COVID happened, and we weren't able to visit more like we would have." Instead, they've mostly had to keep up their friendship through FaceTime and while playing video games together.
"It was a complete surprise (for Stevie)," his mom added. "You see this sense of relief and joy because all he wanted was to see his best friend, and vice versa." The expression on Stevie's face and his actions speak wonders. It's a video everyone can relate to.
But even more heartwarming is how Owen wasn't taken aback by Stevie's emotions. In fact, it's possible he felt exactly the same way on the inside. Life can be a bit challenging for an 11-year-old boy when it comes to expression, and these two proved that they're wiser beyond their years when it comes to acceptance and love.
Stevie wasn't afraid of being vulnerable, and Owen knew exactly how to address it. That, alone, tells the audience how close they really are. Friendships are so important to hold onto, and this one is well-equipped to last a lifetime. Since most 11-year-olds use social media, keeping tabs on long-distance friends can be difficult.
The video even makes Diane cry every time she watches it. When she shared it on Facebook, she admitted, "I can hardly watch this without crying," adding, "Stevie being surprised by his best friend who moved away a few years ago. The BEST❤️." It's unclear if she realized how much the video would resonate with the crowd, or that it'd eventually go viral.
Stevie also didn't realize that the moment was so big that it'd end up on NBC. He was briefly interviewed about his friendship with Owen and was asked what his favorite aspect of the friendship was.
"Um, I don't think I can because there's so many nice things to say about it," he responded.
He did mention that he really misses the one-on-one time he got to spend with his friend when he was local. "I really liked when me and him were able to play with each other in the park," he said. Hopefully, with time, these trips to see each other won't be as few and far between.
Stevie's and Owen's parents did make sure that the travel arrangement was as safe as possible. A lot of thought was put into the reunion, from the logistics to the big surprise — and that's likely yet another reason why the clip resonates with so many.
"It's amazing how a video of kindness and friendship and emotion can really make other people feel good," Diane said.
Hopefully, this beautiful moment will inspire you to reach out and say hi to your own best friend — or book a future travel plan to see them. If you're feeling like you're missing someone special in your life, try going out and meeting new people. Maybe you can find someone you connect with just as well as Owen and Stevie.
