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 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4A8uFZJqW
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 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdI7vmVH547
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. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWxSkIY6c5
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7vZZ1IugS
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdoYMACuVC
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2T0cmADanj
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSUwQbmsSe
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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. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5632z2nlq
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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. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoCRVNktYM
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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. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOy4dcalSKR
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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.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENquSJKENS
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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. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrIFH21r4M
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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. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlOegqySOQ
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsUasEYdFw
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQe9sQcRFr
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2kxd16uq0
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChoUzHvQOu
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfB28eI8U7B
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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. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UR5lWPsdT
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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. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnwjSPJ8yY
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPC4IyRoryq
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3bKPEOKv5
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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. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DpMJ8OBhc
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFE4uKFr8r
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEKWsBo7Or
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyP6oAfoFXh
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAcPaOAKNi
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5vITbgxFz
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I watched my husband swallow hard.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntktQkqlWM
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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. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7evj2wCpGn
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeNxvTEbk7
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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. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZuS0im9Df
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDMCLoQnch
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFC3oByFFH
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsY2NI7BXW
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WPZjWbAZe
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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. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBDiVNQic3
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoAyNPhur5
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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. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZs0oWUA6Lc
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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. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lFd36MLGq
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFC8ugwTfl
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"Sure," my husband said. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBia50sX7uZ
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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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