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 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVJdl4rPiZ
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 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡig6BZIqEES
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. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHZi7RnJLd
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKq7p5igee6
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFAiAVjdh7
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDycuHMD7m
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmaxamGomL
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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. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj24Q0KVxPc
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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. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYTSnWcA6E
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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. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aT92HQ3kJ
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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.624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBznFYTF4c
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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. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJKRQT2U5p
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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. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbazUmq2n2
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDJkIvGCrJ
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhZ0Y0A8dG
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcrDvg0d65
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYY8YaWJCZ
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnUu3dutPD
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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. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEii71CpSq
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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. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2Ivzss5y3
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOlgb3Ya5V
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJzh9hyjNA
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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. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHGqzlvdPX
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBPvezocMC
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINEuUyjNUO
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaccH0Pc0Vk
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jqLFCtL1K
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoZJJmgzUi
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I watched my husband swallow hard.624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2MKVcmz3C
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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. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbK2FxCSwX7
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWahZYNj6D
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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. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9dVDYseBC
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5NS2XUxiD
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLL9yIqtEWc
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3ZN5kPN45
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vQnSm5Col
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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. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhI39fwWAHA
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVMW1rXuYe
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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. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckfXlIf0Yc
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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. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbpW0gNL70
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm72hp2DEg3
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"Sure," my husband said. 624Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhHRJOoNod
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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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