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 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1cGVlhuqE
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 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuEgskOMvh
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. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QFK5EFZUI
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2DadJNBDA
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgMFy7GwsE
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtu07mZ3Aai
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYUSBV6TqR
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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. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCS3ej3eCNI
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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. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RoWszc8BS
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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. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCap9s3QHtK
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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.588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkusnxXiGX
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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. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ457f5jbRBX
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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. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOYeHpIM52
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UM7yyxEqv
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4NHEkVwsr
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFJ8nGBPtY
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYWRe1BvNr
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgxhUP2AHa
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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. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmj4Z0MKoQ1
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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. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQal52d7uKr
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRZIhCzVeH
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHfVJEfo4W
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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. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvy6oJCTsmk
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLD26CCM7Q
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53eCFpdgSa
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSIOjxOOAn
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrME9kXC62V
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXDOx9kzdz
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I watched my husband swallow hard.588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrwOdaKmSd
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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. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjDcGl2sqQ
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlEeEkKUCi
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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. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7fmMudknr
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrW0Hw1pRRk
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUkCNQYREW
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKLzAQmSnA
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemB2nPfbaJ
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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. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWmLNbFs1a
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEQPZrzyWT
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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. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJCgjPOKfr
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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. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7FHEhSiLY
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6H7rb341R
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"Sure," my husband said. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4etoKIz3OM
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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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