For many in the U.S., it has been over a year since they’ve seen loved ones who live abroad. Video chats, Zooms or FaceTimes are great, but there’s nothing like a human touch, which has been all but impossible with the U.S. not allowing citizens from many countries to visit during the pandemic. That all changed on Monday when U.S. borders were opened again to anyone with two doses of the vaccine.

We were struck by a particular reunion at Newark Airport in New Jersey that was captured by the New York Times. Jolly Dave began her journey from India on Saturday to meet her boyfriend in the U.S. She went home to visit family last year and suddenly stuck, not able to return when Covid cases spiked in her country. But today, her boyfriend, Nirmit Shelat, was waiting for her when she stepped out of the airport.

“My Lady Luck is back. You can make daily calls, stay connected by FaceTime, but you want to experience her fingers, her touch, her kiss. She told me she wants to break the Apple wall.”

Nimrit Shelat

Keeping families apart for 20 months was gross and not backed by much logic. But at the peak of pandemic delirium I thought they'd never re-open the US border so today is a good day https://t.co/rOmXPyaScq?

— Graeme Demianyk (@GraemeDemianyk) November 8, 2021

The Times writes:

They saw each other from down a hallway, and embraced upon reuniting. She kept her mask on as they kissed. He grew emotional. She was carrying three roller suitcases and four bags.

“The Apple wall is broken,” she said.