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 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVU6pA3ECUE
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 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OLpcmJxZs
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. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuFpP1Hzym
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63JINEvniy
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJmU8c9O2r
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfn7B3XFzt
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrXVo52Tur
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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. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2pPXHJzVy
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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. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42ALtRBOPB
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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. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ783XZUhDKt
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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.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSeJeX0KKu
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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. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtt5ynYZ9ZL
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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. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguyf9wSadW
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvexH4FvP6
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELiznwTSl4
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiSUPg8hc4
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERc12pQFhh
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphSaukisuC
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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. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOxWhVr3To
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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. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs70157v3yw
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZNAp4S0Kb
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBn6YdzJgs
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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. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY45cNehVQY
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFb6E1IyBF
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0IOb0MzF6
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYzOwpdER4
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNN2i9z0xmT
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gsZt0GSuI
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I watched my husband swallow hard.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8DEYukMfB
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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. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YSyudPl1q
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGuwSxr0TW
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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. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKOaDItBdz
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6BdW4NHxj
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMUCHwGTMt
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFJe0egsIk
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZ1fUEvYEZ
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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. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6pkj2SM9Z
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbo3o7zAd4B
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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. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6l8M6XrMZE
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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. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Nu8mxozZQ
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBUewmPMeQ
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"Sure," my husband said. 538Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAQyl8ubjY
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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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