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 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGDQbcJmI6
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 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCIRQ1YDjk
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. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPyoA6LyVX
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGqGKvT2Hr
"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQub3MkY4ug
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm74Iy3rrF0
"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSlMtJ9XdD
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7M7iZmqjgF
I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNjGub3UVn
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArhcjwGL9L
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzXwTbyoe8
My husband held me close as I sobbed. We walked to her bed. At the bed, my husband took her hand into his. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRsZlgcHPx
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQifNEo7os
"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. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHxVn6iTjE
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpg39ASIWtv
I found myself believing those words and I knew we were coming out of that situation as a team, with Jesus as our leader. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3q3zvF57xu
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF59U7rYGWT
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.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOsZ9x0udV
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVx8RtaE5qU
"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. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgULWJWlNoV
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkVLQA9KdL
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. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBuNNSxKRe
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrFXLY8YNH
"What happened?" My husband asked. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTTWR2EnnF
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3Md6kYNcg
"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQi7Og1oHd
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztHlo4LW5D
We all turned our attention to the little girl. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTg8ox8LHMY
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eAVZQmF9V
"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIM23r3NNNi
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKARF1Fo5a
"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3668CkdYD
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPCjwoZRFx
"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. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldDobIKdni
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5ilZNy7pb
"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. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadPhWfXaM0
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdAN0C8vJC
I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaTtn5yJGz
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOsKlxMYII
"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISxHv75mwE
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SN6dyu9ZE
I glared at him. How could he say that? The little girl didn't need to know about that, I said under my breath. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqIImJiVec
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAHPYNW5gT
"What's Autism?" She queried. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZ6edsp0q1
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSr5vReX87h
"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOSzxG6z5K
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfjrQQrZlq
"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7DNCTMSma
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsac9v8ljLU
We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiehST40aP
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVz00RBBYr
"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbFqDJ3L4s
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsd5BSCfZ0
I watched my husband swallow hard.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWV6FNcISHn
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqQn523NyQ
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. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5fmJ4cYzY
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93UPXhVYyD
"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDDsEiq857
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBun8eh9wt
"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. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCNMAEdQhF
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMnIXUvO76
"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKW2tYK7kv
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7pXn0M0JW
"She will be fine," he said calmly. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4yblgcCQz
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6atAHJOKV1
We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJOccoypRm
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1lu0egxfY
"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56I0dqJhfP
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNHvJkFK5y
I smiled at him. "We all made a mistake. And I believe God is going to teach us better as we serve Him more. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTWVzyMPog
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMO3vOyUKc1
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH07Y5SL1SL
"I am sure she would," he said and pulled me into a hug. When we got to the Ward, the principal was still there. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCfl2RWFXh
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOeyOMXwug
"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. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv054srduF6
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrihLt8ChV
"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CyaFE8qmO
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLDQryjhaZ
"Sure," my husband said. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqQ5CrZ2b9
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMWGNpuf1q
Turning to me, Nonso said, "it's going to be alright.” That was the boost I needed.
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxnYVzS1BD
