A sense of the ordinary from behind bars (3)

Help at hand

But technology is not always the answer. Sometimes inmates still need human interaction. Psychological counseling is offered in a room known as the Cocoon Bar.

He Miao, 33, who is serving life for murder, said the space, which has scenic photos on the walls, pictures of flowers on the floor and no iron bars on the door, is a "haven" when she feels troubled.

Wang Ying, 33, also said she often visits the "bar" when she feels down. She has a 7-year-old son, but her husband divorced her when she was sent to prison.

Choking back tears, she said: "My ex broke up with me when I came here in 2008. We'd known each other since childhood.

"I guessed he might do it, but I never thought it would be so fast," she said with a sigh, as she adjusted her pink glasses to hide her tears.

Wang is serving 15 years for fraud and said the initial pain was deciding if she should tell her son where she really is. "The sentence is long, not only for me, but also for my child."

She sought solace from correction officers at the Cocoon Bar. "I just like sitting there, listening to some light music and talking with the officers," she said.

Senior officer Li said her cellblock has 65 in mates, more than a third of whom are divorced.

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