This week on Home and Away in Australia, Leah’s nightmares get worse as she tries to keep her trauma from Justin.
The past week has seen Leah struggling with PTSD type symptoms, suffering nightmares and constant flashbacks to the warehouse ordeal, and Justin’s life-threatening situation in hospital.
One night, Leah heard something outside and became alarmed. She dialled 911. When Rose (Kirsty Marillier) and Constable Watson (Gary Bell) arrived, they saw nothing alarming.
Rose reassured Leah that she was safe, saying that Vita Nova had vanished and that many of them were imprisoned without the possibility of being released on bail. Despite our suspicions about Rose’s claims, we shared Leah’s scepticism regarding criminal narratives.
Rose learned from the episode that although cases can be closed, victims of the cases may not always receive the same level of closure.
The next day, Rose went over to Leah to see how she was doing and let her know that she could talk to someone if she needed support.
Leah refused to engage in the conversation though, telling Rose that everything was going to be fine with Justin returning home that evening.
Things weren’t fine however, despite Justin’s efforts to ensure the day was extra special for Leah.
Having tasked Theo (Matt Evans) with picking up an engagement ring for him—sending photos so he could decide which one—Leah and Justin spent the day putting together the first plans for their wedding before Justin took Leah for a romantic meal at Salt.
After proposing to Leah properly and presenting the ring, the two returned home, where Leah promptly ended up having another nightmare.
As she got up for some water, Justin waking in the process, he noticed that her engagement ring had been left on the bedside table.
Leah continued to be hostile towards Rose when she again enquired after her the following morning, and told her to leave her alone when she caught sight of Leah’s engagement ring and tried to get a better look.
A concerned Justin witnessed the encounter, and later confided in Alf his worry that he may have taken things a step too far with the engagement ring.
In the latest Australian episode, Leah approached Bree (Juliet Godwin) for help, practically barging into her apartment above the diner to ask her for sleeping pills.
“Rose has told me a dozen times that Vita Nova aren’t a threat, but when I go to sleep, I’m having nightmares,” Leah explained. “And when I wake up, I’m jumping at shadows.
“The nightmares feel real. Like I’m back in the factory, or at the hospital and you’re telling me Justin’s not going to make it.”
Leah retorted that she can’t do that if she can’t sleep, which is “why I need some sleeping tablets.” Bree clarified that she just needed time to digest the experience.
While Bree was receptive to her concerns, she told Leah that pills wouldn’t help the underlying issue, and suggested that Leah seek counselling, or at the very least speak to Justin.
Leah stormed away before they could discuss the matter further. Bree refused to write a prescription, so Leah refused to entertain her idea and repeated her requests for sleeping drugs so she could have some instant relief.
In upcoming episodes, Leah continues to struggle, with the tiredness gradually getting the better of her.
After a long shift at the diner, she heads to her car, exhausted. As another car slows down in her path, it takes her straight back to the moment a passing car rescued her from her warehouse kidnap ordeal.
She drops to her knees and begins to panic, reliving the traumatic memory.
Back in the real world, the driver – who just so happens to be Justin – jumps out of the car and rushes to her side.
Will Leah finally open up to Justin and reveal her trauma?