Jamie & Jade: A Pandemic Romance

Jamie knew there was something special about Jade even before Jamie found out that they shared the same sense of humor and values and were interested in similar shows. Something about Jade’s eyes in their photos made Jamie want to see where this might go.

But COVID. While some people they knew had received the vaccine, Jamie and Jade were not eligible yet. But Jamie had read about some fun, creative ideas for “dates” that could be done from a distance, so after getting to know Jade over zoom, text, and phone calls, Jamie took the plunge and decided to send them a little surprise to let them know they were enjoying their time together-apart.

Jade was so thrilled that Jamie had been thinking of them and taken the time to do a little something special, that they reciprocated with their own creative surprise.

As Jamie and Jade continued their casual surprises to one another, they became aware of their growing mutual fondness. One day Jade suggested that they try meeting in real life, but that they keep the six feet of social distancing space between them and meet outside somewhere that would be free of crowds or other people.

Jamie was thrilled and suggested they go on a hike. Jade loved the idea and researched various creative ideas to make it special. The date was so fun and memorable that they continued meeting while social distancing. Sometimes picnicking, other timesaround a fire. Once they went together on a self-guided walking tour to see the murals and street art of their city. One of Jamie’s favorite regular dates was watching a movie with Jade under the stars at the drive-in theater. One day they hoped to visit the drive-in in the comfort of one car, but for now, they brought lawn chairs and met there.

As the relationship grew, so did the desire to be together more intimately. But COVID. Jamie realized that if they were creative, they could find a way to keep that intimacy alive despite the pandemic restrictions. Jade loved the ideas Jamie came up with to make their online time together special.

The day Jamie and Jade got vaccinated, they decided it was time they were in the same social distancing circle and would allow themselves to date indoors at each other’s homes and remove the six-feet barrier between them. They still were cautious about going to indoor public spaces or being around groups or crowds, but now they could utilize creative date-night ideas at home.

One night, as Jade was laughing at Jamie’s antics during their game night, Jamie realized how special their time during COVID had become and how the restrictions of the pandemic had only served to bring them more closely together. Jamie smiled at Jade and imagined the next date together.