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 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJDLMgL5J4
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 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPyeEeTbdL
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. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0mtESXtAT
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioc7R7cJDA
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdp5xtd1zQ
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgekj3iHZsx
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aZl5vK9m8
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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. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejuyDxlQxj
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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. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEtkqIzhA1
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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. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYlWq9uGgb
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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.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0B2gTxRKe
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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. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hqTmFWo2v
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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. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWhu0jDyHk
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrj41qURhrt
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLspiscreQ5
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0xgg8EctV
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFbFCES3Ra
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1F8FPm0izb
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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. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnepD9eaFkW
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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. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolGvmtHbBx
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOir4MoGqN
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZiH1kQxtN
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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. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfOek6llSZ
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcJIoPJDEu
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCAUJd4itD
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnF5r7m2HoF
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxugaSz8YGS
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEAOOZFmBX
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I watched my husband swallow hard.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5okd2gbwQ
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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. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNYfnO6dko
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFFbneLxkm
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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. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSlqJdxr2k
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBRcJEL4xQ
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRdnc5SGli
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0H6Bey0DLi
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwJXJ3v4zF
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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. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4K5ezTddJT
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFst9WQ5br
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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. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3LaGiGSv3
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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. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cZLhcUsmS
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0erfs0gKEY
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"Sure," my husband said. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ycuPRvU8U
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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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