Emotional reunion of 11-year-old Chicago boy with his best friend.

Three years ago, 11-year-old Stevie from Chicago was separated from his best friend, Owen, when Owen moved to Missouri with his family. For three years, Stevie had been hoping that someday he’d see his best friend again.  Then COVID interrupted any such plans.

On Friday, September 24, 2021 Stevie had been having a bad day at school, and he asked to be picked up early by his parents.

The video shows Stevie walking to his car with his backpack and basketball.  When he opened the door to his parents’ car, he saw Owen sitting in the backseat.  Stevie dropped the basketball, stared at his best friend, and began shedding tears of joy as Owen patted him on his back.

In the video, Stevie asked through tears what Owen was doing there.  Then Stevie told Owen that he had just made his day – that he’d had the worst day ever. 

It’s a true story of a young and meaningful friendship of two young boys that survived COVID and three years of separation.

It turned out to be one of Stevie’s best days ever!

We thank Stevie’s parents and NBC News Channel 5 Chicago for this heartwarming story and the video.