Trans man's journey with his best friend by his side of 20 years is winning hearts

It feels blessed to have someone stand by your side through all the ups and downs and changes in life. Maybe only a few people experience such a thing, but it is beautiful to witness, even from afar. A trans-man on Instagram shares a similar bond with his childhood best friend, who has been with him for 20 years. The duo have been a part of every aspect of each other's journey. The video posted by Leo Macallan—who goes by @thegravelbro on Instagram—shared a video showing the various stages of their friendship and it has touched people's hearts on the internet.

The text overlay of the video read, "How it feels to change your gender but keep your best friend." The first photo was when Macallan and his friend were quite young and the second one was of their present-day selves. It also captured the before and after of the transition. The series began with a photo of the two from 8th grade and featured several others from freshman year in high school, junior year, senior year and college. The friends were together when Macallan's transition began and even after he had been on Testosterone for 10 years. The man even officiated his friend's wedding in Finland, "By the power vested in me by the Taco Bell Corporation."

"Love you always, bro," the man wrote on the final photograph. The 32-year-old told Newsweek that he did not feel nervous at all when he told his friend about being transgender. The friendship began when they were both in seventh grade and the friend Theo came to his house to teach him and his twin sister math. "We became fast friends, riding bikes to school, climbing out of windows to have moonlit campfires, you name it. It was a very wholesome way to grow up," he expressed. He had a difficult family situation, but his friend made things much easier for him and his sister.

"I would've been a very different man if Theo and I had not been kids together," Macallan shared. "Over the years, everyone else drifted apart, as they do, but Theo and I found ourselves back together, sitting under the firelight and making each other laugh until our sides ached and cooking hot dogs." His best friend even dated his sister from the time they were in eighth grade till college, But friends remained close even after the pair broke up. "I only remember the ones that I was really apprehensive about," the 32-year-old said, pointing out how he didn't remember how he came out to his friend as trans. "Theo's inherent nature was, and always is, achingly pure and true. Through his innocence, he gave me a soft place to land."

People took to the comments to appreciate the beautiful friendship. @iridelmax wrote, "I don't know how to put exactly what I'm feeling into words, but my brain went 'handsome' but not just handsome, but so comfortable. Like you look like you are so comfortable and that it would be so comfortable to be around you." @meljstephan remarked, "Damn. That's beautiful. I've never liked the same person for 20 years except my grandma." @quicksilverdaisyday expressed, "It's posts like these that remind me that people like me really do have a place in the world."

You can follow Leo Macallan (@thegravelbro) on Instagram for more lifestyle content.