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.

leaving us in a

me, and he motioned

what's been going on while I've 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

could say that. It's been... 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

stuck in here..." Daryl said gently, watching me with an understanding that made it

had my back... and to think that he almost lost his life trying to

shaky breath, my mind

he's put me in so much danger. My gut is telling me to run away from here and to never look

was shocked at how quickly I had began to offload, feeling that he of all people somehow

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

that," he said, his voice soft but steady. "Your problems aren't minuscule, and I don't want you holding back

long time since Daryl and I had spoke on good terms like this, with our friendship

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

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

on with those you care for... so perhaps forgiving Vincent

best to just forgive and forget about what he

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

him... never... and that was my

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

will be happy one day. Let's talk about

breath,

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 takes a second to digest my words, nodding along to

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

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

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