We speak to some real life individuals who share their relationship experiences and love stories during the age of Covid-19
Despite the pandemic keeping people quarantined in their homes and preventing physical intimacy, all around the world strangers are still trying to find love. No global virus seems to be able to slow down Cupid’s swift arrow, flying left, right and centre, and hitting unsuspecting bystanders in its’ path. From Tinder swipes, to roommate romances and friendship fancies, here is a collection of love stories from the coronavirus.
See also: Tatler Tips: Date Etiquette
Name: Ethan Lane
Age: 22
Occupation: Data Analyst
Location: London, United Kingdom
I first met Patricia during my first year of university. We had a short fling two years back when she was on a break with the guy she was seeing at the time. But after our initial fling, she went back with her then boyfriend and we didn’t speak for two years.
When lockdown was happening in the UK, my family took the last plane back to New Zealand. I stayed behind. I was furloughed at the time and was stuck in the house. A couple of days later Patricia sent me a message, and it turned out she had been living down the road from me. Initially I panicked, but she made me laugh in her messages, and I finally replied back.
At the time, we still didn’t really know what the rules were. I think everyone was extremely lonely, isolating by themselves. And I guess for me, lockdown really helped my dating life. I was used to travelling and bouncing around, and quarantine settled me. I asked Patricia if she wanted to quarantine with me, and we’ve spent the entire lockdown together. We did all kinds of things, like move the chair out to the garden, cook together, work-out together at home and even I got a Disney plus subscription.
She’s not officially my girlfriend yet, but I am going to ask her. I am actually going to buy 200 pieces of rods and stakes and stick them in the ground, and have it spell out ‘Will You Be My Girlfriend?’. She won’t be able to see it from the ground, but if you climb up to the roof, you will be able to read it.
I think if it wasn’t for the lockdown, I would have found a million ways of not spending time with her. Quarantining together was kind of like, we’re in this together.