When a woman posted an image of her and a friend on a cruise in 2006, seeking to get in touch with them again, she didn’t expect Twitter to track her down in less than 24 hours.
Twitter user @briannacry posted the image on November 24, saying “I need y’all to help me find my bestfriend cause I miss her and I need to see how she’s doing now.”
Compassionate Twitter users quickly began to share the post, which currently has over 90,000 retweets at the time of writing, but almost 24 hours later, Brianna still hadn’t found her friend.
Hey twitter, I met this girl on a dinner cruise in Hawaii in 2006. We were basically bestfriends for that night so I need y’all to help me find my bestfriend cause I miss her and I need to see how she’s doing now. Please retweet this so we can be reunited. pic.twitter.com/LRtk6ClvV3
— Bri (@briannacry) November 24, 2018
Not yet
— Bri (@briannacry) November 24, 2018
However, perhaps in all the confusion and endless notifications, Brianna actually missed that the friend in question had responded a few hours earlier – 11 hours and 18 minutes after the original Tweet was posted.
The best friend Brianna was searching for sent back a selfie of herself holding a photo from when she was around the same age in 2006, as evidence it was her.
Simply writing “Heard you were looking for me”, @heii_tree send Twitter into a frenzy as she reunited with her long lost best friend.
omg my heart is so happy
— Bri (@briannacry) November 24, 2018
It turns out that Heii hadn’t been on Twitter for years, but that friends of her recognized her in the picture and alerted her that an online search party was looking for her.
Bruhhh it’s been literal years since I was last on Twitter and the first thing I see is a search party for my ass
— heii (@heii_tree) November 24, 2018
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on Esports, Gaming and more.
When asked how it came to her attention, Heii explained that she hasn’t “changed much in the time span between elementary and middle school”, so her middle school friends knew it was her.
Most of the friends that alerted me I’ve known since middle school!! I don’t think I changed much in the time span between elementary and middle school, so that’s why
— heii (@heii_tree) November 25, 2018
Unfortunately, someone did try to spoil this wholesome moment by attempting to scam people, starting a GoFundMe to help them meet up – but Heii assured people that it was not linked to them at all.
To my knowledge, neither @briannacry or I have set up/been contacted about a gofundme. Please be careful about links everyone, and keep your muns close to your huns uwu pic.twitter.com/bRXItgPJDU
— heii (@heii_tree) November 25, 2018
However, a GoFundMe might actually be exactly what is needed if the pair are to meet each other again, as Heii explains she isn’t in a position to make a trip any time soon.
To everyone who’s saying @briannacry and I should meet up: I’m going to community college on financial aid I’m not going anywhere anytime soon pic.twitter.com/PJaqZqHZvP
— heii (@heii_tree) November 25, 2018
The power of Twitter reuniting the pair was noticed by some of the biggest influencers on Twitter, such as YouTuber Daniel ‘KEEMSTAR’ Keem.
Awwwwww https://t.co/iaxvPFmtnp
— KEEM (@KEEMSTAR) November 25, 2018
If the pair do ever meet up, it will most likely be all over Twitter now that it is somewhat in the public interest, as one of the great positive outcomes of social media.