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 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvN2NOnLwl
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 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqaGJti3Jd
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. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7kziHpkWh
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ563tUvSG7j
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPBfW4JIxV
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZKGLDciJs
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRjThIKefG
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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. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKOO5xZo1w
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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. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wL4qRFAbb
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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. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8OU6jF7Cr
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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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKvITfS7zu
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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. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlegl6UsO1
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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. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTw7wpz03U
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9leVIYooYC
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1W1MCWyQ2
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8v4am0FMl2
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYrfqajZBp
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4qXz1HWXz
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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. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6cWKhafsK
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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. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4Z6VLEaci
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOFWGhjRX9
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloD8xwSsEW
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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. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobsmUbERzG
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvqFT4zoHd
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATrbUShklg
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT44MJc8UGN
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTLgsHhJ1a
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwi4ZqTHncB
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I watched my husband swallow hard.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBsHk97Shy
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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. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9ettCOr2h
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyoH5tSEc6
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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. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgawSBXQnS
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQ9l9A92xj
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdELb2sptUR
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYYuk2fWpB
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84jbJ9NvAl
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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. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZGnNHSUsX
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynRYs28zwT
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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. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlzF9b1VzX
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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. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtqMpsheWK
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwWPeKNXjf
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"Sure," my husband said. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3pYTWIKZP
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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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