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.

of the door, leaving us in

me, and he

It looks like you've been to hell and back." He comments,

to recover from." I hesitated, not knowing where

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

because I'm stuck in here..." Daryl said gently, watching me with an understanding that made it easier to open up

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

a shaky breath, my

him, but I just 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

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

Just tell me to shut up! My problems are minuscule compared

dropping back 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

had been a long time since Daryl and I had spoke on good terms like this, with our friendship having been on the rocks due to his previous disagreements with

that actually mattered now. Sure, Daryl had his

book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on the complete story.

too short not to move on with those you care

it best to just forgive and forget

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

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

"It's like every time I think that I have a grip on things,

will be happy one day. Let's talk about it and maybe you'll feel better? Just start wherever you want to."

deep breath, gathering

still worried about most is that my father now knows where I am... or at least, who I'm with.

this time to apologise to you for how I treated you

I never wanted to hurt your feelings,

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