Airam stopped when she saw Harry standing there.
His sleeves were rolled up, his hair slightly messy, like he'd run after her again. But it was his eyes that made her breath hitch.
Not pity. Not shocked. Just… understanding. A quiet, painful understanding.
"Airam…" he said softly.
She stiffened immediately, holding onto her composure like it was her last thread of dignity. Not here. Not in front of him. Not again.
She tried to walk past him.
Harry stepped aside to give her space but gently touched her arm before she could escape entirely.
"Don't touch me," she whispered. Her voice wasn't angry this time. It was… fragile.
He dropped his hand instantly. Not offended. Not defensive. Just careful.
"Okay." He nodded, stepping back. "I won't."
But he didn't leave. Ahmed stood a few feet away, silent and stunned, watching the way this stranger seemed to understand Airam better than anyone.
Airam tried to breathe, but her chest felt too tight. Harry's voice was soft, low, steady. The kind of voice that doesn't demand, it anchors.
"You don't have to stay here," he said. "You don't have to talk to him. And you don't have to pretend you're okay." Airam's throat closed.
Harry took a slow step forward, but kept enough distance for her to retreat if she needed to...showing her she had control.
"And I'm sorry, Airam. For what happened. For what you lived through. For what he did to you." His jaw tightened. "No one should ever make you feel unwanted for being born. No one."
Airam blinked rapidly. Tears threatened. She swallowed them down."I don't want your sympathy," she whispered.
Harry shook his head. "Good. Because I'm not offering sympathy."
Airam looked up, confused. "I'm offering respect." His voice dropped lower, firmer. "For surviving all of that and still becoming the woman you are."
Airam's lips parted, but no words came out. She turned her face away, refusing to cry. Not again. Not in front of him.
Ahmed watched the exchange, unsure whether to leave or apologize again, but the intensity between Harry and Airam kept him frozen.
Harry exhaled slowly.
"Airam…" His voice softened even more.
"You don't have to let me in. Not now. Not tomorrow. Maybe never. I'll accept that." Her breath faltered.
"But I am not walking away from you in this moment," he said, "Not when you're hurting.
Not when you're trying so hard to be strong that you're breaking." He searched her face gently.
"Let me take you out of here," he whispered. "Just for air. For quiet. For you."
For a long moment, she didn't say a word. Then...
With a voice that sounded both exhausted and defeated, she whispered,
"…Take me away from here." Harry nodded once, slow, relieved.
He didn't touch her. He simply walked beside her, matching her pace, creating a quiet shield around her as they left Ahmed behind.
Ahmed opened his mouth to call after her...
But Harry turned his head and shot him a warning look so icy, so protective, that Ahmed's words died instantly. Airam didn't look back.
Not at Ahmed. Not at the father who broke her.