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 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8qM8gMjDT
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 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnscuVAH4Rx
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. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7o0R5urclO
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBOsrgP6tU
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81dpdJyU9x
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEE4krgXO4
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZHOg6TtYY
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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. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3dXqVAivG
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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. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWXAhCEgwb
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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. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAf6C2BgxH
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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.583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQDZ19TY6G
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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. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuvUrYWSFV
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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. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvLK6trkug
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfGX7rAw0B
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3x4f1av2m
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFMWaR5iBQ
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0dBRpLITS
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVPke7TryP
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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. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEktZp2bQa
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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. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxdpYsDpSa
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFo7FTZD5D
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9leYOCnpEj
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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. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYyFPvGpMW
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFyBjoLAqg
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3fDLqN3Ot
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ceAsfnvvr
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVdHzcT3sa
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGYZmOSnUb
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I watched my husband swallow hard.583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpF2k5zDZS
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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. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVm3ZQCBuvu
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaa16sX71af
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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. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhC1ZCeCLzW
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdJ2E3abIx
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZHbZgn0Tg
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQaln3ciYY
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXdXumyeBS
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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. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMk4uvrhXE
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMt39Dotan
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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. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBbfDM3clK
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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. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwukJeXLRmn
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6CoT5DZim
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"Sure," my husband said. 583Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEnnSf082E
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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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