“You all right, Son?” he asked me when I reached the stoop.
I opened my mouth, but couldn’t think of anything to say—and in fact had nothing to say. I remember that his mutt was staring at me, too. I nodded to Williams and headed upstairs. On the top of the staircase, just as I had countless other times, I was overcome by the certainty that my mother had returned to me. It seemed real this time—I had a visceral reaction, a feeling of almost insane euphoria. I rushed into the house, already panting, already wearing a grin… but the loneliness of the house was unmistakable; and in the living room, my aunt was at her usual place, staring blankly at the television. The baby was sleeping beside her on the couch. I entered the living room and stood just behind my aunt. After a while, she looked up at me, surprised to see me—or perhaps surprised by the extent of what was on my face. I went to her then, and hugged her and cried. She still sat on the couch, and was no doubt bewildered by my strange outburst. She held me timidly at first; but then, maybe seized by some internal terror of her own, she hugged me tighter.
D.V. Bernard immigrated from the Caribbean nation of Grenada when he was nine years old, and settled in New York City. He is the author of two novels: God in the Image of Woman (2004) and The Last Dream Before Dawn (2003). He can be reached through his web site: www.dvbernard.com
BREAKING THE CYCLE RESOURCES
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is the major source for assistance for victims of abuse. Their web site is located at http://www.ndvh.org. The National Hotline for assistance is 1-800-799-7233 or the TTY number is 1-800-787-3224.
The following are state organizations that offer assistance to victims of domestic violence:
ALABAMA
Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence
PO Box 4762
Montgomery, Alabama 36101
Phone: 334-832-4842
Fax: 334-832-4803
Hotline:1-800-650-6522
http://www.acadv.org
acadv@acadv.org
ALASKA
Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
130 Seward, Suite 209
Junea, Alaska 99801
Phone 907-586-3650
http://www.andvsa.org
ARIZONA
Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence
100 West Camelback Street, Suite 109
Phoenix, Arizona 85013
Phone: 602-279-2900
Fax: 602-279-2980
http://www.azacadu.org
ARKANSAS
Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence
#1 Sheriff Lane, Suite C
North Little Rock, Arkansas 72114
Phone: 501-812-0571
Fax: 501-812-0578
http://www.domesticpeace.com
CALIFORNIA
California Alliance Against Domestic Violence
926 J Street, Suite 1000
Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: 916-444-7163
Fax: 916-444-7165
Toll-Free: 1-800-524-4765
http://www.caadv.org
caadv@cwo.com
Southern Office
8929 South Sepulveda Boulevard, Suite 520
Los Angeles, California 90045-3605
Phone: 310-649-3953
Fax: 310-649-2479
Statewide California Coalition for Battered Women
3711 Long Beach Boulevard, #718
Long Beach, California 90807
Phone: 562-981-1202
Fax: 562-981-3202
Toll-Free: 1-888-722-2952
http://www.sccbw.org
sccbw@sccbw.org
COLORADO
Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence
P. O. Box 18902
Denver, Colorado 80218
Phone: 303-831-9632
Fax: 303-832-7067
Toll-Free: 1-888-778-7091
http://www.ccadv.org
CONNECTICUT
Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence
90 Pitkin Street
East Hartford, Connecticut 06108
Phone: 860-282-7899
Toll-Free: 1-888-774-2900
info@ctcadv.org
DELAWARE
Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence
100 West 10th Street, Suite 703
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
Phone: 302-658-2958
Fax: 302-658-5049
http://www.dcadv.org
dcadv@dcadv.org
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
D.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence
1718 P Street, NW, Suite T-6
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-299-1181
Fax: 202-299-1193
http://www.dccadv.org
dswartz@dccadv.org
Victim Advocacy Program of the District of Columbia Coalition Against Domestic Violence
DC Superior Court
Room 4235
500 Indiana Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-879-7851
Fax: 202-879-1191
FLORIDA
Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence
425 Office Plaza Drive
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Phone: 850-425-2749
Fax: 850-425-3091
TDD: 850-621-4202
Hotline: 1-800-500-1119
http://www.fcadv.org
GEORGIA
Georgia Coalition Against DomesticViolence
3420 Norman Berry Drive, Suite 280
Atlanta, Georgia 30354
Phone: 404-209-0280
Fax: 404-766-3800
Hotline: 1-800-334-2836
http://www.gcadv.org
gacoalition@gcadv.org
HAWAII
Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
716 Umi Street, Suite 210
Honolulu, Hawaii 96819-2337
Phone: 808-832-9316
Fax: 808-841-6028
http://www.hscadv.org
clee@hscadv.org
IDAHO
Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence
815 Park Boulevard, Suite 140
Boise, Idaho 83712
Phone: 208-384-0419
Fax: 208-331-0687
Toll-Free: 1-888-293-6118
http://www.idvsa.org
ahrensa@idvsa.org
ILLINOIS
Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence
801 South 11th Street
Springfield, Illinois 62703
Phone: 217-789-2830
Fax: 217-789-1939
TTY: 217-241-0376
http://www.ilcadv.org
INDIANA
Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence
1915 West 18th Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
Phone: 317-917-3685
Fax: 317-917-3695
Toll-Free: 1-800-538-3393
http://www.violenceresource.org
icadv@violenceresource.org
IOWA
Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence
2603 Bell Avenue, Suite 100
Des Moines, Iowa 50321
Phone: 515-244-8028
Fax: 515-244-7417
Toll-Free State Hotline: 1-800-942-0333
http://www.icadv.org
KANSAS
Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence
220 SW 33rd Street, Suite 100
Topeka, Kansas 66611
Phone: 785-232-9784
Fax: 785-266-1874
http://www.kcsdv.org
KENTUCKY
Kentucky Domestic Violence Association
P. O. Box 356
Frankfort, Kentucky 40602
Phone: 502-209-5382
Fax: 502-226-5382
http://www.kdva.org
LOUISIANA
Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence
&n
bsp; P. O. Box 77308
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70879
Phone: 222-752-1296
Fax: 222-751-8927
http://www.lcadv.org
frankalcadv@aol.com
MAINE
Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence
170 Park Street
Bangor, Maine 04401
Phone: 207-941-1194
Fax: 207-941-2327
http://www.mcedv.org
info@mcedv.org
MARYLAND
Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence
6911 Laurel-Bowie Road, Suite 309
Bowie, Maryland 20715
Phone: 301-352-4574
Fax: 301-809-0422
Toll-Free: 1-800-MD-HELPS
http://www.mnadv.org
info@mnadv.org
MASSACHUSSETTS
Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence
Jane Doe, Inc.
14 Beacon Street, Suite 507
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
Phone: 617-248-0922
Fax: 617-248-0902
http://www.janedoe.org
info@janedoe.org
MICHIGAN
Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
3893 Okemos Road, Suite B2
Okemos, Michigan 48864
Phone: 517-347-7000
Fax: 517-347-1377
TTY: 517-381-8470
http://www.mcadsv.org
general@mcadsv.org
MINNESOTA
Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women
590 Park Street, Suite 410
St. Paul, Minnesota 55103
Phone: 651-646-6177
Fax: 651-646-1527
Toll-Free: 1-800-289-6177
Crisis Hotline: 651-646-0994
http://www.mcbw.org
ccook@mcbw.org
MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
P. O. Box 4703
Jackson, Mississippi 39296-4703
Phone: 601-981-9196
Fax: 601-981-2501
Toll-Free: 1-800-898-3234 (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.)
Toll-Free: 1-800-799-7233 (After Hours)
http://www.mcadv.org
MISSOURI
Missouri Coalition Against Domestic Violence
415 East McCarthy
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
Phone: 573-634-4161
Fax: 573-636-3728
http://www.mocadv.org
mocadv@socketo.net
MONTANA
Montana Coalition Against Domestic Violence
P. O. Box 818
Helena, Montana 59624
Phone: 406-443-7794
Fax: 406-443-7818
Toll-Free: 1-888-404-7794
http://www.mcadsv.org
mcadsv@mt.net
NEBRASKA
Nebraska Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition
825 M Street, Suite 404
Lincoln, Nebraska 68508-2253
Phone: 402-476-6256
Fax: 402-476-6806
Toll-Free: 1-800-876-6238
http://www.ndvsac.org
NEVADA
Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence
100 West Grove Street, Suite 315
Reno, Nevada 89509
Phone: 775-828-1115
Fax: 775-828-9911
Toll-Free: 1-800-230-1955
Hotline: 1-800-500-1556
http://www.nnadv.org
NEW HAMPSHIRE
New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
P. O. Box 353
Concord, New Hampshire 03302-0353
Phone: 603-224-8893
Fax: 603-228-6096
Toll-Free: 1-800-852-3388
Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-866-644-3574
Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-277-5570
http://www.nhcadsv.org
NEW JERSEY
New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women
1670 Whitehorse Hamilton Square Road
Trenton, New Jersey 08690
Phone: 609-584-8107
Fax: 609-584-9750
TTY: 609-584-9750
Toll-Free: 1-800-572-7233
Toll-Free for Battered Lesbians: 1-800-224-0211
http://www.njcbw.org
info@njcbw.org
NEW MEXICO
New Mexico State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
200 Oak, NE
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106
Phone: 505-246-9240
Fax: 505-246-9434
Toll-Free: 1-800-773-3645
http://www.nmcadv.org
agnesm@nmcadv.org
NEW YORK
New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
79 Central Avenue
Albany, New York 12206
Phone: 518-432-4864
Fax: 518-463-3155
Toll-Free (English): 1-800-942-6906
Toll-Free (Spanish): 1-800-942-6908
Hotline/TTY (English): 1-800-818-0656
Hotline/TTY (Spanish): 1-800-980-7660
http://www.nyscadv.org
nyscadv@nyscadv.org
NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence
115 Market Street, Suite 400
Durham, NC 27701
Phone: 919-956-9124
Fax: 919-682-1449
Toll-Free: 1-888-232-9124
http://www.nccadv.org
marybeth@nccadv.org
NORTH DAKOTA
North Dakota Council on Abused Women’s Services
State Networking Office
418 East Rosser Avenue, Suite 320
Bismarck, North Dakota 58501-4046
Phone: 701-255-6240
Fax: 701-255-1904
Toll-Free: 1-800-472-2911
http://www.ndcaws.org
ndcaws@ndcaws.org
OHIO
Ohio Domestic Violence Network
4807 Evanswood Drive, Suite 201
Columbus, Ohio 43229
Phone: 614-781-9651
Fax: 614-781-9652
TTY: 614-781-9654
Toll-Free: 1-800-934-9840
info@odvn.org
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
3815 North Sante Fee Avenue, Suite 124
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73118
Phone: 405-524-0700
Fax: 405-524-0711
Toll-Free: 1-800-522-7233
http://www.ocadvsa.org
marcia@ocadvsa.org
OREGON
Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
115 Mission Street, SE, Suite 100
Salem, Oregon 97302
Phone: 503-365-9633
Fax: 503-566-7870
http://www.ocadsv.com
ocadsv@teleport.com
PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence/
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
6400 Flank Drive, Suite 1300
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17112-2778
Phone: 717-545-6400
Fax: 717-671-8149
Toll-Free: 1-800-932-4632
http://www.pcadv.org
RHODE ISLAND
Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence
422 Post Road, Suite 202
Warwick, Rhode Island 02888
Phone: 401-467-9940
Fax: 401-467-9943
Toll-Free: 1-800-494-8100
http://www.ricadv.org
ricadv@ricadv.org
SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
P. O. Box 7776
Columbia, South Carolina 29202-7776
Phone: 803-256-2900
Fax: 803-256-10
30
Toll-Free: 1-800-260-9293
http://www.sccadvasa.org
SOUTH DAKOTA
South Dakota Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Pierre Office
P. O. Box 141
Pierre, South Dakota 57501
Phone: 605-945-0869
Fax: 605-945-0870
Toll-Free: 1-800-572-9196
http://www.southdakotacoalition.org
sdcadvsa@rapidnet.com
Eagle Butte Office
P. O. Box 306
Eagle Butte, South Dakota 57625
Phone: 605-964-7103
Fax: 605-964-7104
Toll-Free: 1-888-728-3275
willi@lakota-woman.com
TENNESSEE
Tennessee Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence
P. O. Box 120972
Nashville, Tennessee 37212
Phone: 615-386-9406
Fax: 615-383-2967
Toll-Free Hotline: 1-800-289-9018 (8 a.m.-5 p.m. M-F)
Statewide Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-356-6767
http://www.tcadsv.org
tcadsv@tcadsv.org
TEXAS
Texas Council on Family Violence
8701 P.O. Box 161810
Austin, Texas 78716
Phone: 512-794-1133
Fax: 512-794-1199
http://www.tcfv.org
UTAH
Utah Domestic Violence Advisory Council
320 West 200 South, Suite 270B
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
Phone: 801-521-5544
Fax: 801-521-5548
Toll-Free in Utah: 1-800-897-LINK
http://www.udvac.org
jkbell@udvac.org
VERMONT
Vermont Network Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
P.O. Box 405
Montpelier, Vermont 05601
Phone: 802-223-1302
Fax: 802-223-6943
Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-228-7395
Sexual Violence Hotline: 1-800-489-7273
http://www.vtnetwork.org
vtnetwork@vtnetwork.org
VIRGINIA
Virginians Against Domestic Violence
Williamsburg Office
2850 Sandy Bay Road, Suite 101
Williamsburg, Virginia 23185
Phone: 757-221-0990
Fax: 757-229-1553
Toll-Free: 1-800-838-VADV
http://www.vadv.org
info@vadvalliance.org
Richmond Office
1010 North Thompson Street, Suite 202