A loved-up couple who met during the pandemic say their relationship transformed from strong friendship to a true lockdown love story.
The couple from Yorkshire both have Down's Syndrome and recently took time to discuss how their relationship blossomed. Emily and Luke spoke to WorkFit Employment Development Officer Becki Bateson, about how they communicated through lockdown, their socially distanced meetings, and all about their first date at KFC.
The pair say their relationship began on Christmas Eve, when Luke asked Emily to be his girlfriend. Emily says they first became friends in August 2020, at the height of lockdown, Yorkshire Live reports.
Emily said: "We started to chat on text and we've been talking on FaceTime. And we've been friends on Facebook. On Christmas Eve, Luke asked me if I could be his girlfriend and I said yes, definitely sweetheart.
"I feel so happy. I am so attracted to him and he is so handsome."
Despite entering a relationship together the love birds were still yet to meet. But Emily says their first meeting came on Valentine's Day in 2021. They exchanged gifts, but they had to socially distance to follow the Covid rules in place at the time.
Luke then helped make Emily's birthday extra special by visiting her house with presents. A grateful Emily describes Luke as a "perfect boyfriend" and says: "I am so lucky to have a lovely, kind and big softie boyfriend like him."
Rotherham-born Luke admitted to sliding into Emily's inbox on Facebook messenger. The 25-year-old said he was both nervous and anxious when he met Emily for the first time, but mostly happy and exited.
Luke describes Emily as "beautiful, happy, funny, understanding and really caring." Their first date was at KFC, which Emily loves.
