Page 22 of Breaking the Cycle


  “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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  http://www.odvn.org

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  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

  [email protected]

  Richmond Office

  1010 North Thompson Street, Suite 202