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 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwde6fjjPA
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 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2i5CrtGCT
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. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUt0QqhF6o
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwKOtceG0y
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzHJA8JUEy
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcLihiaZmr
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8otv9bFHf
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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. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5rT02SrSn
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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. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVfRjfIxYQ
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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. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tQVN9BRlH
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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.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCjWDlK4yB
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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. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwA2jyyIRXy
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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. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqQvSiPSEO
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8w9NDnjB49
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5c5tKhEmki
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPBAEV1SRe
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLED7SyM97M
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcB7syKIO3Q
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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. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbk7H7dVWIs
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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. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWqk5Ed62A
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtjJqHh8NQ
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZDXFaksHG
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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. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SYJEDh17k
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUZOH8Xyk9
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDGJbLVwhm
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhos6ZSQwS
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB81cXo8Jn4
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanbErsBB19
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I watched my husband swallow hard.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOmyoz4A5K
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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. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyc0CtFfA30
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHTz1NI1bh
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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. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkE1uYZghDc
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJNcFztxPR
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytidWsp7eV
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKV7FzC4od
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNledpf0SbV
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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. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguN8vaWJrn
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHIJ9lGUvw
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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. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uspjEEG6e
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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. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uw4TX6D6Y
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHF11k4mgOT
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"Sure," my husband said. 584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLgxqsJHi4
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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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