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 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNctiRzG6IS
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 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7h9m9QFMB
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. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDTgCRFqee
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkzJuQJAtk
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYUS9XrwKT
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHKg4PoFLf
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbictXvRXB
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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. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdE27BFilHU
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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. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKa4EHJIgo6
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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. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzct1vvBie
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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.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCC6qF19ZQ
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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. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOP1iqkXGc
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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. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVQRuCwlFy
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiwzlFt36A
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9WniMlP9W
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfD46YZlkIW
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSECsHUB2B
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkxziDpr5T
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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. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzbrBSQCzR
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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. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKLIewCcpS
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo49VtIJp2y
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z1CgOHr6N
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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. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY86GIcwOi9
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPI05hUTZih
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5wfw7Vv9L
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemv42ITCwa
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbZoHiUe0O
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUlCLQL7Np
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I watched my husband swallow hard.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAG1O9jcH0B
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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. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSLSczM23b
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzAs7VXz3h
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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. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNhZK1qMUU
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFm1Po04dfO
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gUx36NCH6
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKxB3SRYih
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uJDil7FZx
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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. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHQiWZk6TZ
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpsi2K96jl
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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. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjvRE59xb7
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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. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyMgEDv1Oj
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UoPMZ4FI7
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"Sure," my husband said. 567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YqfzQjQ7n
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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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