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 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbtkvA055k
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 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIwO4l0t3e
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. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7EMMmlsx0
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡns3tfNmgFW
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uJxS0cbdF
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7aPa3TibK
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHftjgyWri
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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. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4Kk67DHHl
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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. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡao0ugyH5AM
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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. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFAzpeHKvC
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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.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLo0RnDxgZ
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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. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdom26xvR33
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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. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtubovPy5L
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGj0sCQCPb
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjj7ZRqVdrp
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVjSxktOxN
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡif33hhhYTB
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdapySauOY9
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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. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDi3upU2zYj
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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. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLGj1G4jRP
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbogm7cFKOW
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BVPDYoTv3
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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. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUNNdURMuC
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjbwrc7X4W
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXias53xrm
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLNLdoMNeN
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOFR6ds01T
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPTQt9Els4
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I watched my husband swallow hard.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgdv4pqwZh
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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. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvnIfse1Fc
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxhiHeNKsW
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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. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPBsljyyqT
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDm2DjO8QU4
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnLuwFLwcB
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7G1T0zTnrj
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TKSJGbDIA
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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. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuTiOQfoGf
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQLaSePHrJ
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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. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeESYOHYY9
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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. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAORwHxJwH
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EkXryqoqq
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"Sure," my husband said. 564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYTUHc8QQs
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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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