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 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ984pgU6Ajz
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 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAoI8zbq40
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. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCz2MIWLU3H
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"Good day, sir," my husband greeted. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oDk9g6PnK
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"Nice to see you too," Mr Ajetumobi gave way for my husband and I to enter the Ward. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuuwuwnuBX
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I gasped when Nonso opened the door. My baby was hooked on drips and oxygen. My eyes blurred with 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2XNfvgc2N
tears. She looked so pale and weak. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbvkeQLomv
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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. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yX6I4WjYv
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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. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD801enmat4
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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. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYahR2Ty3UR
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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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpm4Sbjjzo
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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. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6NqqaGfja
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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. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNXlpqU1xH
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"What happened?" My husband asked. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dcZKED7Ra
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"It's Chisom that can say that," Mr Ajetumobi explained. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6edgJu7Gv
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We all turned our attention to the little girl. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAWtl9EkhZ
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"Please, don't get mad at me," she pleaded. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWDH9113vE
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"We won't. So speak up," I encouraged her. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmazh6fm1Nm
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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. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNAtCFaxsd
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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. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhmw4jeKZy
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I placed my hand on her shoulder. "It's ok," I placated her. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FMruAQn8o
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"Yea, it's not your fault. She has Autism," Nonso spilled the beans. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7ZfS0DO4c
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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. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQleaZp1zc
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"What's Autism?" She queried. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxowzCODhCJ
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"Forget that…," I said. I was about to say more...but the doctor arrived. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjP9RwWIr9
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"Thank God you are here. Can I speak with you privately?" He requested. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KwdLTbHlI
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We nodded and followed him to his office. We sat down on the foamy chair. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR99dU1PUSB
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"Why is she a boarder?" The doctor queried. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJR1FLyRL9
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I watched my husband swallow hard.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nSzQCyHsh
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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. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2Kis21YBu
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"I am sorry," my husband said weakly. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5SzK3oZrX
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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. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3prhj1fK7
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"Thank you, doctor," my husband said. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJ5QflCr4X
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"She will be fine," he said calmly. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7bEUZ40Lj
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We nodded and left his office. Oh God! Let her live.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbV06X6KQSB
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"I will now listen to your words from now on," my husband promised. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPSLmhO6lc
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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. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsCP15Iw14
Our daughter will be healed," I said with conviction. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEvPu4CMbR
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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. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcABQlUcBC
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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. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU45waUuy6y
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"No problem. I will go and reshuffle the process. If you will excuse me," Mr Ajetumobi said. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rkGIXMBWM
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"Sure," my husband said. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56Pfh3M4Sc
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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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