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.

in a silence that

he motioned weakly for me to sit

to hell and back." He comments, as I laugh dryly at the truth of his statement - I looked

been... a lot to recover from." I hesitated,

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

you, Sofia, don't think you can't just because I'm stuck in here..." Daryl said gently, watching me with

Daryl who always had my back...

a shaky breath, my

feel like he's put me in so much danger. My gut is

had began to offload, feeling that he of all

up! My problems are minuscule compared to yours!" I babble

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 -

spoke on good terms like this, with our friendship having been on the rocks due to his previous disagreements

made us all realise that none of that actually mattered now. Sure,

nel5s.org, you might be missing out on

too short not to move on with those you care for... so perhaps forgiving Vincent actually doesn't seem so

forgive

forget with my father now being so hot on my tail

forget him...

think that I have a grip on things,

Let's talk about it and maybe you'll feel better? Just start wherever you want to." His voice had that familiar strength I knew so well,

breath,

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

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

to hurt your feelings, b-but at that time, I really did think

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,