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 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tZ3w11nQD
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 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgRVF5ojjl
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. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QePaQlpHt
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Uo3FqWaS6
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMNivJpuSg
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4uv07NdU2
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJTUvw5AgK
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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. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZW82oX2JpN
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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. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD45vpCNqC4
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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. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BUWiDHl8G
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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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gGMsy1R5Y
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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. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyShPkVxmM
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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. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEzS2Z17CC
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVfnEBZUSa
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3DrAC7L82
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofzVkTcYAD
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwzZ0iOc2F
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyov6IMV48B
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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. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORgrWiUFfv
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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. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ix3lFHHl0
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrLGFubau0
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqdSHZJXPj
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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. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejlkHHnGyN
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Byx7dPTec
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQiB8Pia97
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNd9IrFtzl
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6c7BiNahOi
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvl0ydWg79
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I watched my husband swallow hard.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrE6eD5n7F
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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. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZah0JGQTO
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3r6V16yJCc
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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. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE45p97gBgd
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcR3bEvCPFo
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwEREB8MIB
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQtazRMzTq
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwadGWdhAY
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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. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JUpMGliW5
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmnEj7WE0Q
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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. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXwNAzryDZ
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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. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfm4oY7NBH
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5c0r6otSz
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"Sure," my husband said. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNrK9gIPKE
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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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