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 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwyVdBVvsq
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 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOXG8U5u1o
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. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oscudIcQF
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4TKay1th1
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhN0pZOcvd
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyYLL9SR8k
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkh0uMg8IT
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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. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUQ7sb3p9y
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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. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxui0JKGKLI
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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. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLGZOUudPD
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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.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszM9n5j4Py
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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. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSbA5Ny7Oj
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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. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhWh7ocGC7
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9CqI67o6m
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnh46rqbcM
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRB6cPUveAb
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbjM1TKneO
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZPcQLin8j
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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. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJp1gixiPOb
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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. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDTffkziYJ
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPdo7wLdG7
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUjOMzG5NE
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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. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWFsgbaCCa
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aBwtQQBt0
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeBlmNvZYD
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyA2pACHQCX
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHNuOuXd8X
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmHMOC7cmB
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I watched my husband swallow hard.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQEda629eb
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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. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UI7kp4f7m
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubmBKaPK1W
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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. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCyICZLvHI
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ehtIvuqDB
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2mCjoaP5t
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxyuHuoYO1
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbt3g0Y5PDo
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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. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NlJ3FIMav
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MUJVOaCUx
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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. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtwmnq4Cnu
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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. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uNnVXcv9H
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAc2dhtWT8s
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"Sure," my husband said. 565Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9P0aj7AVd
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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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