From Zombie Apocalypses to Happily Ever After: A Pandemic Romance Blooms in Melbourne
A connection forged during global lockdowns, sparked by a shared love of gaming and witty banter, blossomed into a cross-continental romance and ultimately, a life together in Australia. This is the story of how one woman found love with an internet stranger, proving that sometimes, the most unexpected connections can lead to the greatest joys.
The year 2023 marked a turning point for one writer, who had spent the preceding years navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Having left her day job at the end of 2019 to pursue a full-time writing career and travel, she found her plans abruptly halted by global restrictions. “I’d spent the Covid years locked down in Victoria, Canada,” she recounted. To combat the isolation, she turned to a simple mobile game centered around surviving a zombie apocalypse.
It was within this virtual world that she met Craig. His “witty way with words” immediately captured her attention, and their online conversations quickly became a daily highlight. Initially, their interactions remained light and friendly, acknowledging the vast distance and the inherent uncertainties of an online connection. “We thought we had chemistry, but we kept things light and friendly,” she explained. “After all, we were internet strangers living many time zones apart.”
The possibility of a real-world connection shifted when she discovered Craig resided in Australia. Serendipitously, she was already scheduled to attend a romance book signing in Melbourne in April. Mustering her courage, she inquired about his location, a question that dramatically altered the course of her life. Craig confirmed he lived in Melbourne, transforming a distant acquaintance into a potential in-person encounter. What began as a tentative suggestion for coffee quickly evolved into plans for a full day of exploring the city.
Their first meeting, while she was still battling jet lag, was filled with exploration – coffee shops, chocolate boutiques, and bookstores. The day culminated in a visit to a shop specializing in replica swords and armor, catering to their shared “geeky” interests. Despite the enjoyable day, she initially hesitated to categorize it as a date, her instincts dulled by years of solitude. “After more than a decade of being single and two years of Covid isolation, my instincts were so rusty they squeaked,” she admitted.
However, Craig quickly dispelled any doubt. He was, in her words, a “real-life romance hero” – tall, handsome, charming, and possessing a compatible sense of humor and shared passions. The turning point came after dinner at her hotel. Craig, a photographer, offered to capture images of the Melbourne gasworks, the towers of flames visible from her window. After taking the photos, he paused, put down his camera, and asked for a kiss. “It was a scene straight out of a romance novel, only this time it was happening to me,” she recalled. That kiss confirmed her feelings: Craig was someone she wanted in her life.
Following their initial meeting, they maximized their time together. Craig even assisted her during a book signing, navigating the chaos of nearly a thousand attendees with grace and support. A frank conversation about their future the day before her departure revealed a shared desire for a lasting relationship.
Months later, Craig traveled to Canada, solidifying their connection through daily video calls and shared gaming sessions. She reciprocated, introducing him to her world – whale watching, nature walks, and her family and friends. By the time he returned to Australia, their commitment had deepened.
In 2024, she returned to Australia and, this time, she proposed. He accepted. Their “happily ever after” wasn’t immediate, requiring patience and resilience to overcome the challenges of a long-distance relationship. However, they persevered, and in March 2025, they married.
She has since relocated to Melbourne, joining the wave of new immigrants to the country. “We’re building our life together one day at a time – with laughter, occasional moments of geekiness, and a heartfelt belief that our love story has only just begun.”
