We had done dozens of video calls, but seeing him outside the screen for the first time felt completely different. Like my phone couldn’t hold the full version of him.

And just like that, my "wildly fanciful" dream came true! We spent two of my travel days together. With her company, I experienced a different side of Japan and had deeper interactions with a local person.

In those moments that lasted an entire lifetime, she arrived in front of me, I hugged her and gave her the letter.

Time has passed so quickly that I find myself back in the moment when we first saw each other and hugged. We hugged and cried.

Until you gifted me a plane ticket and, after flying 800km, I was finally able to meet you in person.

We started talking around 5 maybe now 6 years ago, and just 2 weeks ago, I flew over to meet him properly for the first time.

Three days after the two-year anniversary of our first letter, something incredible happened: we met in person.

Ella and Jessica met through Slowly at 15. After exchanging letters for three years, they travelled 3,700 miles at 18 to meet face-to-face—and now they’re planning their next reunion in 2026.

I have a beautiful memory of friendship: the time I met my penpal in person after three years of writing letters to each other.

Gil went out of his way, taking time off work to show us around his hometown of Querétaro, taking us to places we would never have found without him.

I do feel like an old friend who longing each other and finally reunited after a long time separated.

I pray and hope we cross each other's paths sometime sooner than later.