I drove to the county jail with my hands tight on the steering wheel. It’s three days until Valentine's Day. The card I bought for Ryan sat on the passenger seat, a simple red heart with our wedding photo inside. 

I had written “I miss you every single day” on the back. 

My chest felt heavy. 

Forty-five days down, only a few more to go, but every visit made the separation hurt worse.

The parking lot was half empty. I walked through the cold February air, showed my ID at the gate, and waited in the small lobby. The metal detector beeped when I passed. 

A female guard patted me...