Next week in Summer Bay will be a devastating emotional whirlwind, marking the tearful departure of a young resident that leaves Roo Stewart’s heart broken. After all her efforts to mend and nurture, Roo’s hope for a complete family is dashed the moment Cohen, the boy she fostered, says his final goodbye.

The drama begins when Adrienne, Cohen’s biological father, decides to take a major step: he wants his son to move in with him permanently. This comes as a shock to Roo, who fought tirelessly to connect Cohen with his biological father after Adrienne had initially panicked and fled, believing he had made a mistake. Roo, with her fierce determination, convinced Adrienne to return, but she never anticipated that act would lead to her losing the boy.

The Heartbreaking Lie and the Decisive Moment

When Adrienne brought up the idea of moving, Cohen initially hesitated, saying he didn’t think he could. Adrienne, in his disappointment, blamed Roo for influencing him, forcing Alf to step in and bluntly tell him that Adrienne’s own rushed approach was what pushed Cohen away.

But the truth behind the refusal was even more heartbreaking: Roo later learned that Cohen said no only because he didn’t want to upset her. Despite genuinely wanting to live with his father, Cohen was sacrificing his own desire to protect Roo’s feelings.

Upon learning this, Roo had to swallow her tears and set aside her personal pain, assuring Cohen that he had every right to make any decision he wanted without worrying about her.

The Final Hug and the Breakdown

When Adrienne was called back to Summer Bay House, Cohen announced his final decision: he would move in with his father. He had already packed up the rest of his belongings. Roo and Alf were suddenly faced with a real farewell.

In an incredibly emotional moment, Cohen rushed back inside, throwing his arms around Roo in a tight hug and saying he would always remember her, placing her right alongside his own mother, Samantha. Alf quietly gifted Cohen a fishing rod, a reminder of their warm times together in the Bay.

As the door closed and Cohen walked away with his father, Roo could no longer hold it together. She immediately broke down, collapsing into sobs. The whole town witnesses the collapse of a woman who tried to mend a family, only to lose the second child she intended to adopt.

After the failure with her first foster child, Eliza, and now Cohen’s departure, will Roo Stewart find the strength to open her heart to another foster child, or will her heart be forever frozen after these consecutive pains?