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.

us in a silence that was both

at me, and he motioned weakly for me to sit

been out of it? It looks like you've been to hell and back." He comments, as I laugh dryly at the truth of his statement - I looked a damn

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

to explain everything that had happened since he'd been in here? The conversation I just had with Vincent that left me in a pit

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

I had always appreciated, the approachable Daryl who always had my back... and to think that he almost

a shaky breath,

to forgive him, 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

me to shut up! My

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

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

that actually mattered now. Sure, Daryl had his moments, but that certainly didn't make him

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move on with those you care for... so perhaps forgiving Vincent actually doesn't

it best to just forgive and forget about what he

forget with my father now being

would never let me forget him... never... and that was my biggest

I admitted, meeting his gaze. "It's like every time I think that I have a grip on things, something else just... spirals. I've only ever wanted to be happy Daryl and it

know, and none of this is fair on you, but you will be happy one day. Let's talk about it and

deep breath,

well, he and I spoke about everything he done behind my back today... with contacting 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 knows where I am... or at least, who I'm with. He's going to find me soon..." I lick my drying lips, my voice quiet when discussing my father out in the open. Daryl

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

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

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 begin to