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 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0yFvD0jNB
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 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2M3TEcwY7
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. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzjZpIAa54
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9oEHpdX2Z
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0WEKtnpB6
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64rL1Y4saa
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgazxLIMQZ
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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. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOR0bHhKsU
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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. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83dQGip0a7
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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. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXb0bnqAdv
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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.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicm4AU8dMa
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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. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwVkwMy4vo
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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. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmruhl7eUh
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUlmh4N8uy
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fUKHKGavX
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPce1BYQ3U
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HiotgzRJQ
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtED1aDqHGQ
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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. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6uILimEmw
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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. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLM1dFoSTP
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIndb4q2GIP
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUqVmhcV6h
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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. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8KGxRxbpJ
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJxQ5ITpaF
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6ZQjcZ8hQ
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiITbiDdCz
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvdhxsPHN9
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUcE7Yy4qc
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I watched my husband swallow hard.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EKiDPx00D
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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. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9V9Bs3LY5
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhUpFeZPnW
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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. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoq2PnWAa5i
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ayumLTHh2
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5LUJFyD4V
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEqSvYnCfo
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5HCm14Hoz
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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. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFbDuWf1vZ
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmiiWF11dt
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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. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyH9igOBIx
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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. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLY8VREPue
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MBSmJKtTG
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"Sure," my husband said. 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqa6hbTXcaz
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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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