Charline Chaltin and Jeremy Pratico met when they joined a fan page for their favourite band on Facebook.
Jeremy 47, from Vermont in the USA and Charline 19, from Brussels in Belgium, were living 3,500 miles apart and in different time zones when their love story began.
In 2020, through the power of the internet, the couple began chatting online just weeks after the first Covid lockdown came into effect around the world.
Charline told The Mirror: “I posted a picture on the 21 Pilots fan Facebook group and asked people what their favourite song was.
"Jeremy answered, and I didn't really react to his comment, but then he found me on Instagram and we started chatting on there.”
The more the pair spoke, the more they realised they had in common. Their relationship developed from there as they began to talk more often.
Jeremy, a teacher in the US, said, "If it wasn't for coronavirus, I don't know if this would have happened.
“But because I was in quarantine, I was online more than I would have been in normal life.”
Jeremy's feelings for Charline grew stronger soon after he began speaking to her as he found himself waking up and wondering if she was awake.
However, there were several obstacles the couple would have to overcome if they were to make it – including a 3,500 mile distance and a 28 year age gap.
Jeremy said, “I would never normally date someone so young and that far away, but about a week in, I was like 'uh oh, I feel something'.
“I was excited to talk to her, and I knew very quickly I enjoyed speaking to her."
He added: "I've had girls who live 70 miles away asking if I wanted to be in a relationship with them, and I've always said no because I can't do long distance. But with Charline, all the rules went out the window."
As the months went on, the pair grew closer and spoke every day. Surprisingly the couple said the time difference wasn't too difficult to navigate.
Charline said, “Jermy wakes up pretty early, and I go to sleep pretty late, so usually when he waked up, I'm actually asleep for another hour. But it’s not a real problem for us.
“Something just happened between us, I can’t really explain it. We chatted every day, all day long.”
The pair have maintained a long-distance relationship over the past year and were desperate for Covid restrictions to end so they could finally meet.
Jeremy booked an eight-day trip to Belgium in June, hoping that the borders would be open to visitors for summer.
Thankfully the couple's prayers were answered, and the restrictions were lifted just a week before Jeremy was due to fly into Belgium.
Jeremy said, “I went over there on 30 th June. Neither of us were nervous about meeting because we already knew each other so well.
The teacher rented an apartment near where Charline lives, but there was a surprise waiting for him when he arrived.
Charline had arranged to get into the apartment before Jeremy got there, and so she greeted him when he walked through the door.
She had also decorated the apartment with Belgian flags and memorabilia to welcome her boyfriend to the country.
Jeremy said, "Seeing each other for the first time, there was an immediate connection. It was my favourite moment of my whole life, seeing her for the first time. It was absolutely magical."
Jeremy said he had given up on his chances at finding love and had settled for being the cool uncle in his family but said he is now “living a fairy tale.”
Charline took Jeremy to see all that Brussels has to offer, including introducing him to real Belgian fries.
The couple said the near three-decade age gap between them is not an issue.
Jeremy said, “I’m very childlike – I have Peter Pan syndrome, I’m the teacher that jumps on the tables.
“I’m very immature for my age, and Charline is very mature for her age. Neither of us notice an age gap between us because she’s an old soul and I’m a young soul.”
The pair said although some people may look down on partners that have significant age gaps between them, they have not experienced much judgement so far.
Jeremy said his parents did express some concern at the beginning of his relationship with Charline, thinking she just wanted a green card. While Charline’s parents worried that her new partner was not much younger than them.
Despite the families doubts, both families have come to accept the relationship – with Jeremy even meeting Charline's parents.
After eight days together, Jeremy flew back to the US.
He said, “I joked that I left my soul outside the cab when I went to the airport.”
The pair hope to meet again at Christmas when Charline will fly to the US on December 6 th and stay until January 8 th .
Jeremy said, "She's literally my dream girl. We've had this discussion many times, and we know we want a future together.
"We're both ready to move in tomorrow, but between Covid and timelines, we don't know yet."
Charline is now considering whether or not she wants to go to university.
She said, "My primary need is to be with him, even if I wait a few years to go to college. We spent a week together, and it was the best week of my life, so my priority is to be with him."
For now, the couple will stay in touch online and hopefully will have the chance to see each other at the end of the year.
