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 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aXBvzxKRZ
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 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvChUjKIY3
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. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkj2UxGbGpU
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Qrubmb58f
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinQZJmmeHg
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBLkKIbpBN
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYXsbXZJgX
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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. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RcsD0dLJX
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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. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GE5ezkyBq
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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. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDja3B3yYVM
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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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1JkHZK356
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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. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCRH6tiz5L
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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. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJPjx0ICkn
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJYIQTLh7i
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0vMGpfCaO
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNBOSqlaEJ
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYgXifpbth
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdtFnvNHfI
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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. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6vgZXfsio
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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. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mgIZLpW0k
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuOMlkBeLo
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdmAjryLal
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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. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9oW4hK4fN
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpWzTTGXg0
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxq3jw7HiO
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAEMSkURgs
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJBNZ3c5Vk
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoyrPOSOjm
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I watched my husband swallow hard.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6g7eybjPb
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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. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwZ9gx8rRW
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY45wc2v0Te
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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. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVoVLx7SYe
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9w8ab3qL4u
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSN3ozQ3yD9
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAV65WJ5vY
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGwXGZuebe
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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. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrhXf7cSqJ
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizvjPwLVCQ
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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. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXC0ISn8RXF
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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. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ao3LvceJt
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTtvHl41d9
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"Sure," my husband said. 489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwP9RgN8lEC
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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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