He didn't know how to help. That was the worst of it. How could he when it was his fault she was like this. He had caused it, hurt her so deeply and he didn't think he had any right to be the one telling her to pull back. God help him if she was the one shamed by all this. She had become this because of him, because of weakness and because he had tried so hard to walk that line, to feed the monster. He'd tried to stay focused for her, but bit by bit Lord Harry had clawed his way back, as he always did, worse than before, crueler.
"Then we can figure out how to control it. Or, rather, you...I don't know how I would help given I'm the cause but I have every faith that you can work past this, come back to yourself. You're strong Alex."
He reached for her hand but at the last moment hesitated, thinking better of it. Why would she want him touching her? Why would she want anything to do with him at all. He paused, trying to meet her gaze again. Knowing he needed to help her through this but having no idea where he could possibly even begin.
"I...he...pushed you into this, goaded you. Told you every single hurtful cruel thing he could think of. He wanted you to fade. Because he assumed if that happened I would fade too. He didn't expect this"