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 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaZnqDlTIl
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 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYIrEiUpL3
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. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzenWSCPBZr
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxdFsnBOhc
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCj888W6pR
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxyXumDYpW
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWlEp67dFU
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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. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSz3vIGCUBt
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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. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDP1PmSzu2
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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. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKpj6X4Jld
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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.487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyn9o88s8MQ
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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. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7VVSQ6wXl
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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. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLlLRW9VND
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoC0l0a9Ai
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1l1D1Vj4pv
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHCbXj5uZs
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaErUYplex
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPR6Z95OUkU
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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. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Y4U3EI8NJ
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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. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcM9pskU2GA
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcOc5C4nc3
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Nj6uisY3I
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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. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9FafwDSDv
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9erqX5Ii4c
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBM1RjZpOL
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8Z1fFgwsG
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOTN8bbZSm
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxThA1bfhbW
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I watched my husband swallow hard.487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrtd8XFths
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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. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZL0cIKN8wX
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSIppjjpnt
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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. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceVnRKAWo3
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvHhGsHIDr
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazC1P3q8eO
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCs6n0dqhO
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡverODJQ4TK
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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. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnWBAKUpnb
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡru2I2e5HU4
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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. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNVL9CDhpy
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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. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucMWG2YQiB
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnukZn9mwi
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"Sure," my husband said. 487Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9YpndEZBW
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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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