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.

out of the door, leaving us in a silence that was both

he motioned weakly for me to

you've been to hell and back." He comments, as I laugh dryly at the truth of his

been... a lot to recover from." I hesitated, not

since he'd been in here? The conversation

you can't just because I'm stuck in here..." Daryl said gently, watching me with an understanding that

Daryl who always had my back... and to

took a shaky

feel like he's put me in so much danger. My gut is telling me to run away from here and to never look back but physically, I can't. I don't want to leave this

feeling that he of all people somehow

what you've been through! Just tell me to shut up! My problems are minuscule compared to yours!"

I don't want you holding back with me. You have every right to be

been a long time since Daryl and I had spoke on good terms like this,

made us all realise that none of that actually mattered now. Sure, Daryl had his moments, but that certainly didn't make

you're not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing

quickly realised that life is far too short not to move on with those you care for... so perhaps forgiving Vincent actually doesn't seem so

to just forgive and forget about

now being so hot on my tail

never let me forget him...

have a grip on things, something else just... spirals. I've only ever wanted to be happy Daryl and

sigh, Daryl shakes his head, "I know, and none of this is fair on you, but you will be happy one day. Let's talk about it and maybe you'll feel better? Just start wherever you want

a deep breath, gathering

more times than I can count but the one thing I'm still worried about most is that my father now

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 completely catches

to hurt your feelings, b-but at that time,

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 where I am if you ever get sick of him too!" He jokes with a wink, as I