Dad pulled the car into an empty spot. We piled out of it with our bags of food, into the concrete carpark at Seven Hills Train Station. From the car beside us, our cousins, with Aunty Melissa and Uncle Steve, did the same.
“Happy birthday!” I rushed towards Katie, arms outstretched to hug her, grinning.
“Thank you, Nina.” She smiled. “Should be a good day.”
After locking the cars, we dawdled across and climbed the couple of stairs to the bridge. The train tracks gleamed in the morning sunlight. A few dark grey clouds lingered in the sky, but I fully expected a good long day at Cronulla Beach, then relaxing at the restaurant throughout the evening. It was a long public transport trip, at Katie’s instigation, to save on emissions. Finally, we arrived at the beach. I was thankful that we’d caught the train, given that the place was packed. We walked past the restaurant where Aaron and Penelope had gotten engaged earlier in the year, their favourite overlooking the water. For stolen moments, I felt like I was on top of the world. I didn’t want anything else other than the warmth of the sun on my skin and the coolness of the waves around my body.
The younger sister of missing Sydney man Mitchell del Reyan, Nina del Reyan lives on Dharug land in western Sydney. She has recently commenced a teaching degree at Macquarie University. Nina loves her family and friends and is deeply committed to finding answers and justice for the families of missing people.
Abbey Sim is the founder of Huldah Media. She is a creative writing, law and theology student who lives on the lands of the Dharug people in Sydney, Australia. Abbey desires to explore themes of hope, love and longing through her storytelling. She is the author of 'Shadow' and 'From the Wild'.