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 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVj0mntHz7Q
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 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwb3CboxBW
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. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGf1TAr9EeC
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUWACgUX3V
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9U7jMUcL3
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiiu7DczyU
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mcewY3GrF
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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. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODcDH6Tvbk
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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. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjZfelsQLl
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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. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobZLQDCWZs
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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.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFNfRmVobY
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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. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclX138yQKB
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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. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iMgTLqcNv
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFEcJd5Apy
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1Aq7RVSES
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNg5qzrKuJe
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK9KAX8Y1Q
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwMo8HZYlr
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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. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UjosOib0i
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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. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwk89NnTHWx
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofzQN2yEKp
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡra7w2C07Pd
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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. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBEj1UNqVx
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9j6FGh2EK
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kFacCEkqX
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljDC9A56d3
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB44ylGQacu
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1g4M6GExD
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I watched my husband swallow hard.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYoAos15fP
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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. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2PDDQDMDI
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQw8SZJNZf
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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. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEMGer0kRc
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4ixawO3Y8
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38fkN38gYt
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQfud7f6Qz
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpogtxEbxSI
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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. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRN1wE1eOOX
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvS8PL9blMK
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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. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC13YND9jUx
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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. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uJ9WJLTpj
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQd1xrqe9Q
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"Sure," my husband said. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUn9CkUMJTY
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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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