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 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7Vl6qwuRr
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 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKMc29VwlL
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. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jvxBa1wIY
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHTSR0a8zF
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAlTclHOw1
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2gLjAivG5
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdmwZiWL5y
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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. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8En3RDFZIS
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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. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJvjHJDVda
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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. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJRF3jVWKY
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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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qTvfJrT3X
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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. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC91qb1GovK
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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. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRK1WpNucE
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKkAmpF1Fb
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOUumu9LuY
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9ET3zTEv0
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGL6XbUhY3
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGhk9vGghC
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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. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCY6gZO3Orw
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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. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJknyLuO90
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdK3PtyCFj
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATZJjOkF9V
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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. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHkivwOBZA
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2XKyBam37
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ncQBIryG7
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAK1gJPwCJ
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGF0c6i8zr
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoA69tqrpl
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I watched my husband swallow hard.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYpa4GRyex
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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. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLIL5bXowU
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFjzGNaYz0
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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. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMgRAPMrOd
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJHWLMKDYP
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUYvdHhbRG
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6DGBHU89J
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJ9JRgrYC8
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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. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJx6vXjDX8W
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkMO3m2zE9
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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. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdg43Ck3wPK
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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. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8MSm5V7TZ
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOrSZH0VmT
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"Sure," my husband said. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD1dE5xfrA
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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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