Shadows In Durango

Chapter 129

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

Seeing Daryl awake, hearing his voice - it was something I'd longed for since that night, after Ashton landed him here in that hospital bed...

But I had to admit, now that it was finally happening, the nerves were hitting me hard.

Emma opened the door quietly, and I stepped inside behind her, my heart pounding as I saw Daryl propped up in bed, his eyes half-open, a faint smile tugging at his lips when seeing the pair of us. Relief washed over me at the sight of him, more awake and alert compared to the first time we had both visited his room...

"Sofia," he rasped out, his voice weak but warm.

His gaze met mine, his eyes filled with that familiar mixture of warmth and strength that had always been Daryl since the day we first met.

I swallowed back a wave of emotion, forcing myself to stay steady as I walked closer to his bedside. "Daryl... you have no idea how good it is to see you awake again."

He managed a chuckle, though it sounded more like a soft cough. "Good to see you too. From the look on your face, I'm guessing you didn't think you'd see me awake like this, huh?"

"Not after what happened," I admitted, my voice shaking slightly. "Daryl, I... I can't even begin to say how sorry I am. If I hadn't have "

"No, stop." His voice held a faint edge of authority that only he could pull off, even now. "Whatever you're thinking, don't. I'd do it all over again if it meant freeing you from that nutcase." My chest tightened at his words.

Daryl had always been a person I could count on like a true brother that I had always wished for, unlike what I had actually got...

But seeing him lying there, his face pale and exhausted, brought a thick sense of guilt to me that I couldn't quite shake.

Regardless of what he said, I would still blame myself for him winding up here like he did...

Emma, sensing my nerves, cleared her throat and gave my shoulder a comforting squeeze. "I'll give you both a few minutes alone," she said softly, which I nodded, thankful for.

in a silence

up at me, and he motioned weakly for

hell and back." He comments, as

you could say that. It's been... a lot to recover from." I hesitated,

in here? The conversation I just had with Vincent that left me in

me what it is that's bothering you, Sofia, don't think you can't just because I'm stuck in here..." Daryl said gently, watching me with an understanding that made it easier to open up

the Daryl I had always appreciated, the approachable Daryl who always had my

took a shaky

but I just feel like he's put me in

how quickly I had began to offload, feeling that he of all people somehow deserved to know the truth of

to shut up! My problems are minuscule compared to yours!" I babble out

aren't minuscule, and I don't want you holding back with me. You have every right to be upset - I was too when I

on good terms like this, with our friendship having been on the rocks due to

us all realise that none of that actually mattered now. Sure, Daryl had his moments, but that

if you're not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on the complete story.

far too short not to move on with those you care

best to just forgive and forget about what he

forget with my father now being so hot on my

me forget him... never... and that

I have a grip on things,

but you will be happy one day. Let's talk about it and maybe you'll feel better? Just start wherever you want to." His voice had that familiar strength I

breath,

my father... and to cut a long story short, I'm really hurt over it all and I don't know what to do about it. He's apologised for it way more times than I can count but the one thing I'm still worried about most is that my father now

it was only coming from a good place - I'll at least give him that. I also want to take this time to apologise to you for how I treated you that night at dinner. Truthfully, I was only pissed off because I finally realised that you chose him over me." Daryl explains, which

I jump in to defend; "W-What?! Daryl I never wanted to hurt your feelings, b-but at that time, I really did think that

up before speaking- "Don't apologise for it. I've accepted now that you have romantic feelings for him, and truthfully, I've known that for a long time but I just didn't want to accept it. But I have now, and I'm prepared to get over it as long as we can stay good friends... and you know