As with most kids and even adults all over the world, four-year-old Eliana also dealt with quarantine blues. So, she decided to build a fairy garden in hopes of spreading some cheer in their neighborhood in Los Angeles. Apparently, the little girl’s effort didn’t go unnoticed as it caught the attention of a photographer named Kelly Victoria.
Upon seeing the magical site, Kelly didn’t hesitate to return the favor. In fact, she even went out of her way to pretend to be a fairy named Sapphire and reached out to the girl. The exchange between “Sapphire the Fairy” and Eliana went on for about nine months. And recently, Kelly detailed in a Twitter thread how she and her four-year-old neighbor created a magical bond amidst the pandemic.
Keep scrolling down to discover the heart-warming story behind their newfound friendship!
In a Twitter thread, LA-based photographer Kelly Victoria detailed the heart-warming story behind her newfound friendship with her four-year-old neighbour Eliana
I think everyone could use a lighthearted/happy story right now so here goes:
At the beginning of the pandemic I went through some painful personal stuff and would often go out at night for long walks because no one was around and I couldn’t sleep anyway. One night I was walking
— kelly victoria ? (@saysthefox) December 12, 2020
down my street and noticed that someone had set up a few little objects in a tree planter and upon closer inspection I realized it was a fairy garden with a little note about the 4 year old girl who felt lonely in quarantine and wanted to spread some cheer. The next day I wrote pic.twitter.com/aCEK2k5PCy
— kelly victoria ? (@saysthefox) December 12, 2020
Apparently, it all began when she stumbled upon this fairy garden which was set up by Eliana “to spread some cheer” in their neighborhood
Kelly didn’t hesitate to return the favour and decided to cheer the girl up in her own creative way
a little note to her, pretending to be a fairy named Sapphire that had come to live in the tree because she had set it up so nicely and I left it on the tree that night on my walk and said I would gift her with a magical fairy dice (I got really into crafting resin rpg die at pic.twitter.com/c0FDrlSm3M
— kelly victoria ? (@saysthefox) December 12, 2020
In fact, she even went out of her way to disguise herself as a fairy named Sapphire!
the start of the pandemic) if she did 3 things for me: pic.twitter.com/1Ae9DjazAW
— kelly victoria ? (@saysthefox) December 12, 2020
I wasn’t sure if she’d respond or even find the note but it was fun just imagining what she’d think. The next night on my walk I found this and immediately burst into tears: pic.twitter.com/eOKKupzf7x
— kelly victoria ? (@saysthefox) December 12, 2020
So I left a bunch of my die that had small imperfections and left her another note and also a little extra note for her parents with my name and phone number so they could contact me and know I wasn’t some creep leaving notes for their small child: pic.twitter.com/89B5PcpxBa
— kelly victoria ? (@saysthefox) December 12, 2020
This was there the next day: pic.twitter.com/3jKB9bHcEh
— kelly victoria ? (@saysthefox) December 12, 2020
“Sapphire the Fairy” and Eliana continued to exchange letters for nine months
Doing this every night gave me purpose in a horribly painful and lonely time. I looked forward to my days again and I started ordering art supplies and little trinkets to leave her.
We wrote back and forth throughout the last 9 months, helping each other feel less lonely and I pic.twitter.com/mTscxUMxwX
— kelly victoria ? (@saysthefox) December 12, 2020
Kelly even took the time to photoshop a photo of her dressed as a fairy to send to Eliana
got to chat with her mom via text to make sure my gifts were a little more personal. At one point she asked for a photo of me and thankfully I had some elf costume items from the previous Halloween so I photoshopped some photos of myself in costume, looking like a fairy. ? pic.twitter.com/XgTAWnuWXK
— kelly victoria ? (@saysthefox) December 12, 2020
Unfortunately, Eliana and her family were scheduled to move to a new house, so they would have to leave the fairy garden behind
In the past month her mom sent me a text letting me know that they had closed escrow on a new house a little further away and would have to leave the fairy garden behind in the care of their neighbors. She also mentioned that Eliana was having a tough time with it so I made sure pic.twitter.com/PuulHuy0VC
— kelly victoria ? (@saysthefox) December 12, 2020
So, Eliana’s mom thought it would be nice for the two to finally meet
to include some support in my letters and told her I had to move as well so she’d feel like we were both going through it together. Her mom said it was helping her so much and they really wanted to try to see me somehow before they left.
Well today, their moving day, after a pic.twitter.com/aBtff6OhWN
— kelly victoria ? (@saysthefox) December 12, 2020
few days of planning with her mom, I got to meet Eliana. I left one last note this morning saying i had to move out today and made up a little story that when fairies move houses, they grow to the size of a human just for one day to move all of their belongings. I said I had one pic.twitter.com/yMUWntFr3E
— kelly victoria ? (@saysthefox) December 12, 2020
more gift for her and would leave it this afternoon and hoped ? she wouldn’t catch me. As they came back from their last walk around their neighborhood I was by the tree leaving her gift and she got to catch me in the act. (I got tested two days ago and her pic.twitter.com/ZpsCzEDdwI
— kelly victoria ? (@saysthefox) December 12, 2020
After a few days of planning, “Sapphire the Fairy” and four-year-old Eliana finally met each other at the fairy garden
parents did too to make sure we were all safe because I really needed to hug that girl) We got to sit and talk for about an hour and she asked me a million questions about what life is like as a fairy, some I had prepared and others I hadn’t. It was incredible and one of the pic.twitter.com/f82VX0J75p
— kelly victoria ? (@saysthefox) December 12, 2020
most important and impactful afternoons of my life thus far. I hope one day when she’s older she can understand that I truly needed her as much as she needed me these past few months.
This is the book she wrote me after I encouraged her to keep telling such amazing stories. pic.twitter.com/lqRNyJSdxi
— kelly victoria ? (@saysthefox) December 12, 2020
We plan to keep in touch/write letters to each other from time to time. She’s changed me forever and the things her mom has said about how her self-confidence, her kindness towards others and her creativity have skyrocketed since meeting me make me feel like I made an impact too. pic.twitter.com/UNkhkrEcR7
— kelly victoria ? (@saysthefox) December 12, 2020
I hope that’s….a good thing ? pic.twitter.com/YnP5bxAsAQ
— kelly victoria ? (@saysthefox) December 12, 2020
Kelly’s Twitter thread ultimately went viral, amassing over 414K likes and 149K retweets to date
When I went to sleep this had like 10 likes ?. I have nothing to promote, I just ask that you try to do something special for someone today and keep the magic going ?? thank you all for being so sweet.
— kelly victoria ? (@saysthefox) December 12, 2020
I’ve had tears in my eyes all morning reading all these amazing messages. This was my special little secret that only 2 or 3 people knew about for the last 9 months, I wasn’t trying to get any attention for any of it but I’m so glad it’s bringing people so much joy. Thank you all
— kelly victoria ? (@saysthefox) December 12, 2020
I also found out today that Eliana has Synesthesia just like me and I can’t wait to discuss this further with her in the future ? her parents are such a treasure
— kelly victoria ? (@saysthefox) December 13, 2020
During these incredibly tough times, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to spread some positivity and kindness even in our own little ways. And this heart-warming story about the beginning of Eliana and Kelly’s friendship proves just that. What do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments section below! Have you also made a new friend during this pandemic? If so, feel free to share your story as well!
Source: Kelly Victoria