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 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRhSO6OFAa
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 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLzQQCwJVc
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. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwh0OCMVVLM
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPpB4RFBkJ
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFhnGso1H1
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VobPDwoiD
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KGcS3mms3
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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. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiLdNWb3Qd
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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. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEdcWNMaok
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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. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10ChCvcBMU
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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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSrMma0JP3
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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. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KqnEhXNmY
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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. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4uMQGeZMz
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtXHc4pIaY
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSGf34qHpN
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrZgDbfMwL
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07Lscu3LRl
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHyZhBoVDS
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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. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NsvPUOwm3
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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. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqUDnWzD7x
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSW3ybSzs0
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1JzNSgmEc
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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. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcmQcFL33e
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GTkAOiiAc
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlXXbEL6Vz
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9ugqfe5ni
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQEhDwdnL5
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnPN9Zp1XO
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I watched my husband swallow hard.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsW0RSF4v9a
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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. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaaY0dVbHd
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnIvmvQTIB
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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. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9DKR58DM4
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfUuG8G7IE
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IUMnxjfbt
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUIC0PuVty
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFI3W0Sz5U
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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. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFUeQIF9SZ
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kmFlsZJKx
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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. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57o2s5SRXH
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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. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBn8yY2zdC
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlFicH3zIe
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"Sure," my husband said. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndj7plUwIb
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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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