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 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluiDzIF11T
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 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTrujMH208
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. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHycLWYnoi8
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRZ66HawvY
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20rR7ROUfv
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqf76NQism
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhsMJpEXYD
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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. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPzL3aPRlB
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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. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRTKjWXv7c
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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. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8gf5WDP68
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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.537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUpNvhYp8i
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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. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvslQdq06Z9
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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. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiWjVSlwup
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZO0F8mR41A
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoOxi5GDlk
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6dDGtDHEW
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULGyMIZXTE
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBwDpxURFd
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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. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXH1iKAdAV
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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. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyNuPyt4a1
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gIk3uuKUs
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFhivAVKg3
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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. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPJw0HO7GW
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBIeYNKzOJ
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EYA4x82hy
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMH7VqcCyMB
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9O4R99n83
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALKdWe0c8s
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I watched my husband swallow hard.537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlxwPL2biu
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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. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVNBrrr5Cs
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNP9y0hKzxi
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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. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9H7u2UPq5
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWfBYLWCGw
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKJsGe8QfF
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZF87BA1tR
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMNODGacFg
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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. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23zwDByLXl
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIvzBrBosj
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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. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZLY7yX643
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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. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOzOVKzmis
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpZEY4QcbS
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"Sure," my husband said. 537Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22Kbg0ZpHT
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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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