MADAME DORIS P.O.V
I watched my husband's eyes pulp. He held the receiver at a death grip. What was the matter now? I stood up from the chair and dropped the Egusi I was peeling on the floor.
I gave him a sign to tell me what was the matter, but he didn't answer me.
"We will be there,” he told the person.
I jumped the gun when he hung up.
"What happened?" I asked him in panic.
He grabbed his car keys. "Gaby is in the hospital," he said bitterly.
I gasped and quickly removed the apron on my waist.
“Oh my God! It's all my fault. If I talked to my husband more about taking Gaby to a boarding school, this 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttB8mjTRvc
wouldn't have happened,” I rued.
I raced after him because he was already out the door. I quickly locked it and entered into the car. It's like the pastor knew this would happen, and hence he came over today.
Tears spilt from my eyes. "It's all my fault. I could have stopped you from making such a decision but I didn't," I said as shame washed over me.
"Don't say that, honey. If there is anyone to blame, it's me. I would try to be a good husband and father to both of my angels, from now on," he stated solemnly, holding my hand with his right one.
Thirty minutes after, we were at the hospital. Luckily, it was St Peter's hospital, our hospital. We sprinted into a 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIyCoOJwGR
run. Getting to the receptionist, we queried about our daughter's state.
"We are the parents of Gabriela Endurance Adugo Achortam," my husband reeled off.
"Wait awhile." She checked something in the computer. My husband squeezed my hand in support.
"That's Ward 222. It's along the root over there," she pointed at the narrow lane adjacent to the place we were.
My husband and I ran to that area anxiously. There we saw one girl and the principal of Gabriela's school standing outside Gaby's door. The girl looked sad. My husband and I took notice and so exchanged looks. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnfTL27Wq1
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4ZJ1MCPR1
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTisW4RMw8G
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3T8ZwXLyv
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkolS8HnURB
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My husband held me close as I sobbed. We walked to her bed. At the bed, my husband took her hand into his. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDi4BYcBBvk
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"You are going to be alright, OK? The Lord will heal you. You remember Psalm 23; it's going to be your portion. You are the light of the world. The world is waiting for you to shine. Don't let the devil pull you under." My husband spoke faith-filled words to her. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HLaCvHsEV
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I found myself believing those words and I knew we were coming out of that situation as a team, with Jesus as our leader. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIT0GP9f3e
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I touched his shoulder. "We are coming out of this,” I encouraged him in the Lord.
He smiled at me and I smiled back. Lowering his head to match my baby's figure, he pecked her on the forehead.619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LMm63VYDq
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"Be strong for us, Gaby. You are our strong, little girl. Hold your hand with Jesus, don't let go," I said with tears in my eyes. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLOXgDOhKT
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I also pecked her on the forehead. Thereafter, Nonso and I walked out of her Ward. The principal and the girl were still outside Gabriela ward. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACRdsTQvYl
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjFMCu5Wl9
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOndoazXzSE
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPX0AZeYeQH
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCK74pm26Ye
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtkzFqkV1O
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"Since she became a boarder, she has been withdrawn and is always on her own. She and her roommate doesn't flow at all. I took a liking to her and always came to talk with her. But each time I came, she drove me away from her. Yet I was relentless. Until today..." Fresh tears spilt from her eyes. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPYYb9wOHb
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"It's OK, child."
"It's all my fault. I couldn't see she needed space and now see what I have done. She fainted in front of me during the heated conversation between us," she sobbed harder. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevj33NoZeB
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLkN1qqsoY
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pvzgcddMA
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I glared at him. How could he say that? The little girl didn't need to know about that, I said under my breath. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKbhZ24880
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWiJ8HDNX7
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMH0XfBB9s
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIq5pr1UKcO
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfe9EPf8G6V
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxj13eDLSXd
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I watched my husband swallow hard.619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KQIrYSQAV
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He began."It was all my idea. I thought it was going to help her interact more with people.” He was shamefaced because of that decision.
"And you didn't remember to tell me about it?" The doctor asked. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrublzKHlV
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZsnb3Su1Y
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"It's alright. She needs love and not to feel like she has been locked up in the hostel. It's not done," he sighed and then continued. "As of now, she hasn't woken up. Go and pray she wakes up. I would do my best as a doctor, but God is the greatest doctor," he said emphatically. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uZje650vD
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw75pNFsoQ0
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGHfNSDj39
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Y90N3Fvln
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpOlwcqI3i
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I smiled at him. "We all made a mistake. And I believe God is going to teach us better as we serve Him more. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVRv2mMx6B
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGQ0iuAs6F
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"I am sure she would," he said and pulled me into a hug. When we got to the Ward, the principal was still there. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqALAiTKaX8
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"Sir, the doctor has reassured us she would be fine. I will have to remove her from boarding school and reverse her to a day student," my husband announced his decision to him. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEaZfCc5ez
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcoLvTX08s
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"Sure," my husband said. 619Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmNxD9roU7
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Turning to me, Nonso said, "it's going to be alright.” That was the boost I needed.
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