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 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnZhyVQ1m0
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 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkpDPDCI9L
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. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQTrO8Kg1S
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbS7tHSjLg
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3ilUYIlFa
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7qjStxlxY
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FMpWxCvgA
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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. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ329mob2rZS
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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. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHHnItEnd0
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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. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYcRn1SVE8
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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.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8dehYIyZV
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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. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqiMCTZlN9
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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. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DdsqOajdc
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSeCIkhfJC
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwNeTbiu6G
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcJBF2S7Fd
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwxSBfSRIY
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdDHQC7FQY
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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. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKip1HjXuk
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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. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPb4P8T14O
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwQ0HMwdVx
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTsRAeqH8R
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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. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfL3bjsTOPU
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjMEovO0TW
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCH3UQBdXj
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmaqcATvui
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iGbS9dZSG
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUdCuwiUZx
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I watched my husband swallow hard.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7lHrv0185
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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. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLX8D0qZfr
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8sMT0J9xq
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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. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TVRdeyds1
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiWWGIF7na
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYY8LYnZz45
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bJ4AYXrsE
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOblZI8EQBx
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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. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0tetgX5HM
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfDw4XoioD
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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. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnz0UDUJM8Q
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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. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8oMiS1lUG
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDs1hUBcIW8
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"Sure," my husband said. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkp4eMa3yva
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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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