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 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WSGJAIbom
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 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06OYIb7lep
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. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsufBTkE1T
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtf5cAf9Jsy
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuVoPPqhSV
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5BAsfOTOq
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmO3xa5anrq
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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. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1d4cLr3mNX
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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. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSzAXdDdkV
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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. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfTtIDUCeu
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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.513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHEkQoj9xq
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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. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYV9C2Qo0cA
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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. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zUJHUIFDk
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqSuKYEVf3
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlrW1Uzdbi
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFhznAsljD
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6Qc7HWPwY
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvhaRxTchj
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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. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeuRVsAU7m
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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. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdF33NZwjPD
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaRU6kWjqF
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNetUE39Sia
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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. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXDPGpRRwO
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfX2cYyLmbB
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNsEcvXedB
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJqGyRYXBq
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH34rSPOujq
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8paNLq9VrY
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I watched my husband swallow hard.513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1KhDOsw4F
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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. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRsbDjfhtw
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzxKsjGUNL
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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. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZCUxb2Wsc
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64C65wZHga
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXWcPFUcmR
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVHLGnOeSW
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iXvnRPoX8
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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. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3L51yU4Cwn
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKPfAlvo5u
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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. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnOKKJRnvp
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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. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4x9HYiW3O3
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPFFmbGAyY
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"Sure," my husband said. 513Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFY6hWKc7AN
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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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