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 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV35dUrvXaj
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 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIzIHgrpRo
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. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBjWVrGVXH
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPcbEdx2rS
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfR2CsD8Ugs
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fVcqk6XLh
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vcw0825pN
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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. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMx89VN6hk3
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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. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpw34S01TV
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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. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqqK0iaFD1
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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.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oVuBldHPE
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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. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVTk6pUaIu
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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. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBApwMZGYIM
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8v91t6BNi
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73ifdUffaY
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmVYjEPevw
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXP8lodcl5
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6zz5wWHcq
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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. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zRgTKXaSW
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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. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlpg6YYg9n
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMG2A0vNiJ2
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRgGmhiAOD
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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. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ61IuQAx4E
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vi5Gruowq
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpkAcMAlUc
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxbD7e26cO
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPuyh5qF9u
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5VahQwgLu
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I watched my husband swallow hard.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf54eHXLhE7
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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. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNh8FvR0f45
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvm0nhmfYY6
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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. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kBTZ1mpSs
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu05MrHEY9U
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzHkS0UEdj
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4oDpLRkBI
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9lbRFcqr3
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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. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOA8BpaEjqg
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHLNyH7fXT
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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. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8X2fEZ2kpG
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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. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDslXqs7MRZ
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgoOMNzSPf
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"Sure," my husband said. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Eoh2XC415
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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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