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.

slipped out of the door, leaving us in

looked up at me, and he motioned weakly for me to sit down beside

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

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

could I even start to explain everything that had happened since he'd been in here? The conversation

you can't just because I'm stuck in

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

took a shaky breath,

trying to help, but things are so messed up after I found out about the entire secret marriage deal. I want to forgive him, but I just feel like he's put me in so much danger. My gut is telling me

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

shut up! My problems are minuscule compared to

down, the movement slow but filled with resolve. "Sofia, don't do that," he said, his voice soft but steady. "Your problems 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 found

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

none of that actually mattered now. Sure, Daryl had his moments, but that certainly didn't make him a bad

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

forgive and forget about what

I forget with my father now being so hot on my tail due

me forget him... never... and that was my

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

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 to." His voice had that familiar strength

took a deep breath, gathering

still worried about most is that my father now knows where I am... or at

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

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

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