Shadows In Durango

Chapter 122

*****Sofia's POV*****

I could feel my pulse quicken as Vincent's text message to Emma's phone repeated over and over again from within my head:

'Daryl's doing better. We should probably talk today. I'll meet you when you get to the hospital later?'

Was this it?

It was direct and straight to the point giving nothing away?

That was Vincent's style...

Was this whole meet up lining itself up to be the dreaded conversation where he's going to tell me it's all over? Whatever spark we had together, now gone? That I was too much of a liability for him, for everyone around me? Most likely.

My mind spiraled with every possible outcome as I finished drying my damp hair, and none of them felt good. Still, I knew I had to face reality sooner rather than later in order to move on in any way I can...

Whatever he had to say to me, whether it be good or bad, I would have to hear it in person, to my face.

I glanced across the room at Emma, who gave me an encouraging smile as she pulled on her peach coloured sweatshirt. "You've got this, Sofia. I can practically hear your thoughts. You need to just talk to him, clear the air, you'll both feel better for it after."

I nodded, even though my stomach continued to do flips. "I know, we should probably go there soon, it's getting closer to the afternoon visiting slots. I'll be ready in two minutes." I announce, sighing once more as I drag the brush through my well conditioned hair - grateful to look somewhat normal again despite the remnants of bruising, but I looked way better than what I had done when I first freed myself from Ashtons grubby basement...

Emma quickly hammered out a message on her phone, probably sending it to Reid since he had offered to come pick us both up, as I placed the brush down on the nightstand.

Everything seemed to move quickly from there, which I hadn't exactly wanted it to, growing more nervous by the second.

Reid turned up, we both climbed in, and thankfully he seemed to have more colour to his cheeks today compared to last night - seeming more back to his usual self.

"Did you sleep?" Emma questioned him, as I chose to remain quiet in the back.

"Yeah Vincent and I managed to take turns during the night, they gave us a small room with a bed when they realised we weren't leaving any time soon which was good." He explains, as I feel relieved to hear that Vincent had managed to sleep a little bit too.

diffuse things a

it went by in a flash, even though it was just a short drive from Emma's place - I had hoped that it would feel longer

might have to say to me, what

that I imagined I could hear it echo up in to my ears. My head maintained a dull ache, one that hadn't seemed to fully

allowing for my body

remember the last time we were here only hours ago, the fear, the helplessness of not knowing

was doing good now, at

we finally reached the waiting room, Vincent was sat in one of the chairs over by the vending machines and hadn't noticed us come in

we stepped towards him, he turned, his expression hard to

smiling, but he wasn't completely cold either. His eyes softened slightly when they landed on me, but the tension between us was still very much there, remaining buried beneath the surface. "Hey," he greeted, his voice low.

you in with him? Is he sleeping again?" Reid questions, as

show up so as you can imagine she's in there all over him like a bad rash. Amelia came back not too long ago though so at least she's in there with them." Vincent tells Reid who rolls his eyes knowingly. It was then that I only realised that

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Daryl's Mom shining through when he speaks of her, she may be another tricky

trying to find my voice amongst the building silence. "How's

eased a little more at hearing me speak for the first

better today. Ate his first meal this morning but it wasn't much. He's still groggy, but the doctors say it's a good sign." His tone was lighter when he talked about Daryl, as if the progress was giving him something

about Daryl... and that he

planned to head back to the house to grab some things for him, and I was hoping you'd come with me, Sofia. We do need to talk." Vincent

inside of me suddenly twisted tighter as I felt my

This was it...

me a supportive nod, sensing my hesitation. "I'll stay here with Reid and keep an eye on Daryl. You guys go

smile, thankful for her. "O-Okay." Turning to Vincent, I added, "Yeah, I'll come with

in large strides as

everything that hadn't been said yet as we approached and climbed in to his

hands locked together in my lap, fidgeting with the hem of my black sleeve as

began to wonder if he had plotted on giving me the silent treatment

don't blame you for this, you know," he said