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 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnCXo5TtxN
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 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLJPJ8Gt4C
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. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuG6IzHnsDP
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJdxTnmB2C
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ivs6mZ0EH
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEycaktjBpc
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6EzIc82hI
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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. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuOwe7oMrm
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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. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuotPPIxNN
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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. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoVRRhVeaZ
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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.628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSfZVWCkCg
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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. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZovLJcIl0f
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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. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpdeZBnorI
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoWedpvG5A
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TE3OpwWAm
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCPBkByRso
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDb97iRTQUn
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwByRKdev3
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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. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgBRfBisPw
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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. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKS0guFQ81
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9SQprGdHk
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfgSHwbvcE
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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. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQr2mVgBJ2
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFRrIEjuxE
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oZVtyb1EF
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbCUPqviOo
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iQoag5lVz
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOvRhp9FXL
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I watched my husband swallow hard.628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuLxkvyMf8
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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. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUkMkk6iEI
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXF1eers1Fu
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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. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3m24mtgkib
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeFGQlDaC1
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Sk6mBrHhG
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kRS3AcfjF
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYvFX1JThr
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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. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpX4gki7zeU
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBL6vtagomQ
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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. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdhQ7DkUNu
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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. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbPfuSQcuY
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5QsAFUFRf
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"Sure," my husband said. 628Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSqs2vu6Ai
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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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