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 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHrmOIHWAu
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 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3tOOKk9KW
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. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgbn4jqPXk
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3xvbZdJ3X
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZj9HI9SBCZ
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQTmMqsH8O
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC41mVP4HPB
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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. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZo3n8T8cjI
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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. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3byqDcp4A
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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. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGYJVRH8aL
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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.585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqY8YNESuS
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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. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyTtbN3Dun
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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. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetjh5qO9bz
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9PeRw3KPD
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCnundL9MS
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXKPYQYj7t
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoi9tafe5F
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3iJPxt4OQ
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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. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyw2MgOpLet
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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. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBlktAoKrx
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsgCXifQri
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOTquOXmHY
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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. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHyIOmWvJF
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJGIMz4UmJ
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsI0HCXWj1
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuthgkvkCvq
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cOWCnBsvb
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGCFQzsYnZ
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I watched my husband swallow hard.585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2bgysdt9w
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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. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZzNrAuBpk
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhF3s1Yb6vI
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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. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQQxTsqoUR
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNl5HpZFmY
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Su7E6kTYR
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSeDZs0bRn
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBZsyhYK6m
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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. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaz3aUT2CA
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtzGGWK9uU
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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. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaR473qZQAI
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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. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQWAxCTwCX
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiCWktGbJ5
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"Sure," my husband said. 585Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaohcoftSH
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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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