Two strangers hit it off at a Brooklyn restaurant. They refused to swap numbers — but made a wild pact

Life is a lot more worth living when you open yourself to meeting new people, sharing old stories, and building fresh bonds. Even though it may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to randomly come across a stranger you resonate with, it is even rarer to keep the bond as beautiful as ever. Erin Rose Jackson — who goes by @erinrjackson on Instagram — shared a video of the time she bumped into a stranger in a New York City diner and decided to meet her a year later.

Erin shared her “Before Sunrise” friendship edition story where she met a stranger — Sue, a 70-year-old lady — at an NYC restaurant and immediately felt it click. Sue was there with her friends and Erin, with her family, during their vacation in the city, when they indulged in a conversation and noticed a similarity in their thoughts. They immediately became “best friends” and decided to meet again at the same Brooklyn Heights restaurant, where they met earlier, exactly a year later at 7 PM while maintaining no contact and having no expectations — but Erin did expect to see Sue there despite being told by everyone she was being dreamy.

Cut to a year later, on December 27, 2024, the Jackson family flew back to NYC to make it happen. Still skeptical about whether or not Sue would be there, the family of four reached Brooklyn, “at the most expensive time of the year.” They waited for Sue and her group at the Brooklyn Heights promenade, and a few moments later, there she was — Sue, with a wide smile and relief etched on her hopeful face after seeing her friend, despite being told by others that she wouldn't make it. The friends caught up inside the restaurant, made videos together, and Dominique, one of Sue’s friends, picked a restaurant for their next meet, which was scheduled for June 27, 2025.

A wholesome story like this one makes us believe in unexpected friendships and that keeping your promises can always pan out for the better. Vanishya on Medium shares what makes unexpected friendships more beautiful than others. She highlights how, throughout her life, she had only made friends because they were either in the same age group, attending the same classes, or were in school together. However, an unexpected friendship made her realize that such connections can happen without any apparent reason. You do not need each other to exchange notes or gather for company when you are sitting alone in your class — you only need one another’s company because you enjoy it.

Research by Mateusz Brodowicz discusses the value of promises in a relationship. He says that there are many other benefits, but the most important one is that when a person gives his/her word that they are going to do something, regardless of how big, small, or unimportant it may seem to them, he/she should strive to fulfill their promise regardless. Simply because they gave their word, and should stand by it. This will help children learn how to foster a better, more well-connected world.

After watching the wholesome video, viewers had a lot to express — @cassandralanrick wrote, “This is the heartwarming story I️ needed today,” while @shannonmckinstrie exclaimed, “More memories like this in 2025! I love!” @gregismsofficial expressed, “I love everything about this — I feel like this easily could be a movie — call it 'Save the Date' and it’s a yearly meetup between all y’all over the years - huge hit,” and @lenubienne shared, “Here I go again, crying tears of joy for strangers on the internet.”

You can follow Erin Rose Jackson (@erinrjackson) on Instagram for more wholesome content.