A woman who is a prison wife has revealed the unique ways she celebrates Valentine’s Day while her partner is behind bars serving a life sentence.
The woman, who goes by “B”, and doesn’t share her name online for security reasons, met her husband, Justin, when he was just one month into his 12 years-to-life sentence, when she tagged along on a trip to the prison to meet her friend’s partner.
B often shares insights into her life, including what it’s really like to be married to someone who is in prison – and now she’s revealed her Valentine’s Day plans.
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“We celebrate Valentine’s Day with either our overnight visits, a video visit or an in-person visit,” B told Need To Know.
“He sends me flowers, a card and a gift.”
The 39-year-old, who lives in Canada and works in real estate, says she and Justin always make sure to book a visit on the most romantic day of the year.
She added: “The days we are apart, we speak on the phone for a longer period.
“We make plans to make up for the special day in the upcoming time we get to be in person.
“The best Valentine’s so far was last year.
“We got to spend three nights together.
“My husband cooked me lobster and steak, and baked me homemade Valentine’s Day cookies.”
B says that she doesn’t feel jealous when seeing other couples together on Valentine’s Day, but is instead “genuinely happy” for them.
She added: “I know many people who are completely alone on this day, and even others who are in relationships where Valentine’s Day isn’t acknowledged at all.
“So when I see couples who care about each other, it actually fills me with gratitude.
“It reminds me of the love I have with my husband.
“I’m thankful to have a partner who is present, loving, and meaningful to me.
“He may not always be within arm’s reach, but he is fully in my life and in my heart – that’s more than many people ever get to experience.”
Justin, 40, has now served 23 years in prison and is eligible for parole, something which B says the couple are looking forward to.
The pair, who each have a teen child, are now expecting their first child together.
They see each other once per week and are able to have a private family visit – an overnight stay at the prison – every six to eight weeks.
B says Valentine’s Day is likely to change when her husband comes home, leaving the future of the special occasion an exciting “mystery” to her.
Their marriage and honeymoon, in 2003, was “a little different” to the norm, she admits.
She added: “Although immensely special and unforgettable, we didn’t have the traditional wedding with flowers and dancing.
“It was within the institution.
“Our honeymoon was seven days but we spent it in a cottage on the facility with no contact with the outside world.”
Valentine’s Day isn’t the only occasion that’s celebrated in an alternative way for the couple.
B added: “I spend [Christmas] with his entire family.
“He has so much family, it’s hard to see them all in one holiday.
“Being surrounded by his family makes me feel so blessed and included.
“We usually do video visits while we all eat dinner or phone calls; that’s how he can join in.”
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