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.

door, leaving us in a silence that was both comforting

at me, and he motioned

of it? It looks like you've been to hell and back."

say that. It's been... a lot to recover from." I hesitated, not knowing where to

had happened since he'd been in here? The conversation

Sofia, don't think you can't just because I'm stuck in here..." Daryl said gently, watching me with an understanding that made it easier to open

was the Daryl I had always appreciated, the approachable Daryl who always had my

took a shaky breath, my mind

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 to run away from here and to never look back but physically,

he of all people somehow deserved to know the truth of how

you and look at what you've been through! Just tell me to shut up! My problems are minuscule compared to yours!" I babble out suddenly,

aren't minuscule, and I don't want you holding back with me. You have every right to be upset - I was too

like this,

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

you might be missing out on the complete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it's

with those you care for... so

to just forgive and forget about

could I forget with my father now being so

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

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

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

breath, gathering my

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

but I do think now that 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 finally realised that you chose him over me." Daryl explains, which completely

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

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