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 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgdxdQQ85x
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 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeUYz175vh
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. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XIkxyEL5p
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77uToNR0H1
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWhQUpQgu6
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqbgm03Rb9
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOadPwfGSp
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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. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyupahCvgtw
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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. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yBDbQf7ZW
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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. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQqwTusKbJ
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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.479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPrfAHdJOx
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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. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJoFmz0JIP
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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. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN42ggwrBrN
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4FDQIeNCl
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oWf0JN45f
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8VejLKBZp
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5ytXqurbm
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡan1iyDijcm
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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. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPfetjEXQZ
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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. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YtbnwKwWj
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgfBRfomY1
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57N5gZTtfE
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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. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGrUDs0yFt
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqKJ7wTiAa
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAZ1JBR3dG
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljSLG7sEJk
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCCJAfl9k5
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPg9x2WeI5C
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I watched my husband swallow hard.479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEQK4fPnFu
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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. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQ45rUIGnD
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeAxTRG63V
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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. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHhr3a4xh6
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFFm0xQ8BQ
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuri08rh0V
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRPTugnpqT
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeFhNKWIyB
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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. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6rr3pKexK
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqqwHJnYda
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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. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1poo5snOMr
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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. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7I0QQENZ4
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCuOGhBgwP
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"Sure," my husband said. 479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3ChQVNFHn
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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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