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.

help diffuse things a little easier? Or maybe I was just

to the hospital felt like 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 today. Emma helped to fill the silence with firing random questions at Reid, clearly trying to distract us all, but I could barely focus on anything that

might have to say to me, what his face might look like when we first

that I imagined I could hear it echo up

them both out of the car, allowing for my body to enter autopilot, as we walked up the familiar steps and in to

remember the last time we were here only hours ago, the fear, the helplessness of

was doing good now, at least that was

the chairs over by the vending

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

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. "I'm glad you're both back." He states politely, as I push out a tight smile, feeling

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

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 I hadn't actually been told much about Daryl's family,

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opinion of Daryl's Mom shining through when he speaks of her, she

swallowed, trying to find my voice amongst the building silence. "How's Daryl doing

me speak for the first time, seeming somewhat surprised that

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 to hold onto. "That's... that's great news," I replied, relief washing over me, but it

knew we weren't here just to talk about Daryl... and that

some things for him, and I was hoping you'd come with me, Sofia. We do need to talk." Vincent stands

inside of me suddenly twisted tighter as I

This was it...

here with Reid and keep an eye on Daryl. You guys go and

her. "O-Okay." Turning to Vincent,

strides as I followed after him

was heavy, filled with everything that hadn't been said yet as we approached and climbed in to his

lap, fidgeting with the hem of my black sleeve as we pulled out of the parking

neither of us spoke, the quietness almost unbearable as I began to wonder if he had plotted

for this, you know," he said quietly, his eyes remaining fixed