LOVE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
“He's five miles away but I cannot get to him because the country is on lockdown”, my friend Alessa complained to me about the state of her relationship. With Covid-19 came lockdown in most countries among them, Italy where Alessa and the boyfriend reside. What happens when there’s a lockdown and lovers can no longer meet, hang out, Netflix and chill? What damage does it do to children whose parents work overseas and they cannot come back? What will be the Covid-19 effect on young relationships and marriages? As countries impose strict lockdown measures and travel restrictions to combat the coronavirus pandemic, couples all over the world are facing similar predicaments.
Love under lockdown is now a reality. A concept that did not exist for many in a couple of months back. Couples are now forced to find ways of relating, to find ways of staying grounded and together despite being apart. The pain of separation can in no way compare to the pain of losing a loved one. Hence discipline that most couples uphold in order to stay apart from each other. “He is only 5 miles apart and sometimes I’m tempted to drive to him just for a hug but this will destroy the whole purpose of social distancing”. Her prayer is that they make it through. “The pandemic is a test one that our love can withstand”, Says a distraught Alessa.
The most terrifying thing is the fact that no one knows when all this will come to an end. Nobody has a clue of when the lockdown and curfews will be lifted.
The pandemic has also had an effect on couples who are living together.” I don't remember the last time we had date night” says Paul when I asked him to comment on the issue. Most couple's routines have changed so much that they sometimes forget to cater for the love bug. He was was to celebrate his first wedding anniversary with his wife on the first of April but could not. They had already made reservations in a resort in Watamu but times have changed and they now have a new reality. Not being able to shower his wife with love on their first anniversary was rather disturbing for Paul. “She will forever have this memory of an anniversary that was celebrated indoors with hot chocolate and marshmallows”. I really hope that this ends soon.
I had a chat with a nurse who had been tasked with caring for the patients who have been affected by the virus. He told me of how hard it is for his kids to understand why he is always in a mask and smells of soap. They don't get it. The normal routine will be of his kids running for hugs and kisses whenever he got home but this is no longer the norm. His wife has to restrain them to allow him to have a bath before interacting with them. The first days he said were extremely difficult, his last born who is three interpreted the whole gesture was that dad was mad at her and she kept saying sorry. He trusts that it will end and they will be okay.
They say love always finds away. Love bears it all, the good the bad and the ugly. Love is all we need to navigate these difficult times and in love, we trust that all this will come to an end.