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 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0l81i3luDg
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 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzY22zwjr77
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. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8F23Lznin
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUHBiC1PZP
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzPoNniifV
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHJwTDZqUJ
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvLjCsL6W7
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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. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWZdTYYm17
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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. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjglm5OoKxb
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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. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6KjCJF7O6
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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.586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40nyLgQ5kv
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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. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJViafD7wAy
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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. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23NwcAowKT
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwEZuJg8qA
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjPyUcU1Te
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlqx7Oj7wR
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkY56DZRXS
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0mFaCyTdV
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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. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKDzi5ti5p
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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. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4w9rJXkgUz
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTUy3HXhCO
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1ZRybpGjy
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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. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdYYvVNyOJ
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVFmeVuYE5
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3BzirV7U3
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9DTKiQo6y
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7U5phwF3i
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNnIIZHFGV
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I watched my husband swallow hard.586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi7NzPfVAx
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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. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujJnter61l
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDwhdV6aJS
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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. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWkSadhz1j
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IKJVTL5rI
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCW8Zyj1gBK
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlNgoytyXY
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpX8glxfhm
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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. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErUtmw3qkC
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JPGayvklY
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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. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFpvVUUFyY
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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. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZB3yeKUge
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHdnPNPMOl
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"Sure," my husband said. 586Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lowlXGZK5
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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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