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 a silence that

me, and he motioned weakly for me to sit

going on while I've been out of it? It looks like you've been to hell and back." He

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

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

can't just because I'm stuck in here..." Daryl said gently, watching me with an understanding that made

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

took a shaky

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

feeling that he of

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

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

like this, with our friendship having been

that none of that actually mattered now. Sure, Daryl had his moments, but that

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

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

forgive and forget about what

could I forget with my father now being so

would never let me forget him... never... and

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

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, even as he lay

breath, gathering my

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

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

never wanted to hurt your feelings, b-but at

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