[spoilers] Harry and Ruth. The Wonder Years.

[Belle]

Bit late to join the discussion , so this has propably been said before, please accept my appologies in case this is an old item,
but maybe Ruth said no to Harry because she 's affraid of getting hurt and won't be able to cope with more grief.
If they remain 'just' colleagues, then maybe in Ruths mind, the pain if something happens to Harry will be more 'bearable', if they would be actual lovers she might think she wouldn't know how to handle it? After all the grief she's been going trough with colleagues being killed or the life with George and Nico she had to leave behind, she might think she wouldn't be strong enough to 'survive' another loss?
I think she said no, no matter how much she loves Harry and he loves her (or maybe because), to protect herself from further pain.