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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXR8UE2B1j
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ponkPREaP
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCORqWuWwlT
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFBmjNWGQI
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡya2AYJREKO
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydfTJxYxmI
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkEUk3UTzX
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QYdfVxsiI
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZmXAdYCBy
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQ0dqw1q1f
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3Gnff942t
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8UMPz9fy0
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWV88OZx7z
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCxN9pVf1i
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMzdDXt36J
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRw1w1sZc2A
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBGYeRTf6U
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyANivwsxE
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWOSO30Bxq
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7x5ZB6H1O
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADmCE7D3KL
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsLr3cXkg8
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLFYeToeYk
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuDgkMap4X
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYNLYHBeYy
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Wws2WkMlx
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFx6u4Inye
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdvTHuh1xX
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I watched my husband swallow hard.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLkeMIy8ph
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYfQDmmgeK
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6PTf6dVaN
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYI8oFkL7vS
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqv9F0BOaqh
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSP2EJ4bNs
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRTMHbbBJw
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUGJP8fNG2
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqJU6T8NjD
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwEpVQ6jCJ
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PGOIIbPpr
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVwVo75Lzx
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73RQJHRCNd
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"Sure," my husband said. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmarBXY80kX
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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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