29. FEARING THE DARK

As she pushed open her door and felt a strange chill run down her spine. The room was dim, the only light coming from the small lamp on her bedside table. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw Haroon sitting in the chair by the window, a glass of water in his hand.

"Haroon?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What are you doing here?" Her brows hardening into stress lines.

Haroon looked up, his eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. "I wanted to make sure you were okay," he said softly, his voice tinged with concern as he twirled the glass in his gentle hold.

Taliya's heart pounded in her chest. She had always sensed something off about Haroon, but she had never expected to find him in her room, waiting for her. She forced herself to stay calm, though every instinct screamed for her to run.

"I'm fine, Haroon," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "You shouldn't be in here." Her face stressing into a cold mask, she have always kept. Fisting her fingers she tries to ignore the gut wrenching feeling churning in her stomach as she prepares herself to face him, without showing him her weakness.

Haroon's gaze dropped to the floor, and he sighed. "I know, Taliya. It's just... I worry about you. You work so hard, and I see how much you care for Murad. I wanted to help."

Taliya took a step closer, her eyes narrowing. "Help? By sneaking into my room? This isn't how you help someone, Haroon."

"This is crossing a line." Her voice thinned and sounded cold making his eyes narrow on her words. Before she could even catch, the fraction went away as it came making her sigh in her thoughts.

He looked up, his eyes pleading. "Please, Taliya. You don't understand. I care about you. More than you know. I can't just stand by and watch you struggle."

Her stomach churned with a mixture of anger and unease. "Haroon, this is not the way to show you care. If you really want to help, respect my boundaries. If I find you in my room again, I will fire you. Do you understand?"

A flicker of something dark crossed Haroon's face before he masked it with a pained smile. "I understand," he said quietly, rising from the chair. The dark wasn't any dark. She has seen it as the dark chased her. Her face went pale as she tried to keep down her breathing and hyperventilate infront of him.

"I just want you to know that I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

Taliya stood her ground, her eyes hard, ignoring the rotting feeling of being chased. "Thank you, Haroon. But please, leave now."

He nodded, his shoulders slumping as he walked past her towards the door. "Goodnight, Taliya," he murmured as he stepped out into the hallway.

As the door clicked shut behind Haroon, the tension in Taliya's body snapped like a taut wire. Her breath came in short, sharp gasps, her chest heaving as she struggled to draw in air. The room seemed to close in on her, the walls pressing inwards, the dim light suddenly feeling oppressive and stifling.

She stumbled towards the bed, her hands trembling as she clutched the edge of the mattress. Her vision blurred with tears she didn't realize were falling. Each breath felt like a battle, her throat constricting painfully. She pressed a hand to her chest, willing her heart to slow its frantic pace. A groan escaped her lips as she tried to conceal her heavy breaths.

"Calm down, Taliya," she whispered to herself, her voice shaky. "It's okay. You're okay."

But the words felt hollow, the panic swelling inside her, threatening to overwhelm her. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on something, anything, to ground herself. She thought of Murad, his peaceful, sleeping face, the soft rise and fall of his breath. She imagined his large and calloused hand in hers, the warmth and innocence of his touch.

Slowly, her breathing began to steady, the tightness in her chest easing just a fraction. She sank to the floor, her back against the bed, and wrapped her arms around her knees, pulling them close to her chest. She rocked gently, finding solace in the rhythmic motion.

Taliya wiped at her tears, anger mingling with the fear. How dare Haroon invade her space, her sanctuary? She felt violated, the sanctity of her room shattered by his presence. The trust she had placed in him, however tentative, was now broken. Even though they were leaving in a hotel room, Taliya couldn't help but protect her privacy.

As her breathing returned to normal, a steely resolve took root within her. She would not let Haroon's actions paralyze her. She had Murad to protect, and she needed to be strong for him. She couldn't afford to crumble.

With a deep breath, Taliya rose to her feet, her legs still shaky but her mind clearer. She walked to the window and looked out into the night, the cool air soothing her flushed cheeks.

"I won't let this happen again," she whispered to the silent night. "I won't let anyone threaten the safety and peace of me and him."

"Not again. I was a fool once." Her voice hardening and felling into a whisper as she leaned against the window.

Determined, she turned away from the window and moved towards the door, making sure it was locked. She glanced around her room, the shadows now familiar and non-threatening. Taliya took one last deep breath, squared her shoulders, and prepared for the next day, vowing to keep Murad safe and to guard her own heart fiercely.

The lines had been drawn, and she hoped Haroon understood just how serious she was.

Just as she walked back to her bed and laid down on it a knock on the door startled her making her turn towards the door with fear shining in her eyes.