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 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRLOq0ZMqL
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 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FyPHkrScc
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. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3r3d1udFv
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjmpsuoUxn
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FI9Oke45T
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZy8HP4FW8
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgwy908seQ
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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. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQMPsOz6pP
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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. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxIP0fFEJg
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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. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7CiWnF593
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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.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1sXPJ7ikH
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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. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLV1A5iP24
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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. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvqdCpONlO
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHijBMm1yrM
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZatZ2jqHH
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydGkvaVo4s
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX14zc7u2Yw
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7S4dHb731
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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. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzn1K4KboK
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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. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDcKq4vRMa
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvVS82Ws8i
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fl7GvZcUR
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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. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHFybzP3sZ
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TYIkEGSHd
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoSuNFwV9S
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLi0gzvMcOu
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwRAQb6EWw
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxCwg9o8f1
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I watched my husband swallow hard.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoUhW2cQNQ
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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. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZmOaTWeQR
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzcwS54eue
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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. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDN7IUtqhr3
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmSq1uU46e
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1AroHU2xW
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ov3mQRDof
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZWS9afRoi
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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. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQO2OpC3EBm
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hsLiiWcaR
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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. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrbJtMIEvv
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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. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOsd9xIntX
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTSPQoJJ95
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"Sure," my husband said. 667Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YLoFO9yVq
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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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