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 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQT89RjpqPl
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 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdAvEHf9cz
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. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VS8PSdnXE
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuRP9WQG2e
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kHDffr8Vb
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyJUmWwwin
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WhAyqeTrj
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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. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHeb6pu767
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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. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdrozmZn20
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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. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiz9AAj9lP
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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.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kKwIvRB0d
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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. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbgWZG89T6
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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. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2o5x4hV7FN
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbho8nVfrI0
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4IVJ4IHZ0
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtgupb8Ct8
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAKcYMzUqn
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIsxNRdvoy
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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. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqerAFgpuUl
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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. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZSnbVZcDq
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdM16nlZ6Q
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDb6Z0omWpU
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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. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpA7UJhvt8
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKJVjFsEuz
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogjpdCqg1j
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhM9NhdypF
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8NqVt8bqr
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgI6fVXsJ4T
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I watched my husband swallow hard.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwYLTPO3kp
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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. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82MtlBtJRQ
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumST9Wk8Ex
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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. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZxBxKhZyX
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkupWInqVc
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTomW5LP5z
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgMsB9GlFm
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjZEqPiXpM
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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. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LjsGajcs1
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ntDJYcnuU
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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. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1dyvM0kTW
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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. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB45d0Zfx8j
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7eVLiKPB0
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"Sure," my husband said. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EV6hcAoRx
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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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