Set

I was standing outside Aunty June’s bakery in Baulkham Hills, leaning against the glass cabinet while discretely chatting with Hayley. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Jumilah approaching. Hayley greeted her with a wave and a grin.

“Hello, Jumilah,” she said with a smile.

“Hi,” I added.

“Hello, Nina, Hayley,” Jumilah responded. “I’m here to confirm my wedding cake for the fourteenth of December?”

“We’ve got that booking, exactly,” Hayley confirmed.

It was amazing that she just knew off the top of her head, without even needing to stop a minute to think. Jumilah beamed.

“That’s excellent, that’s one fewer thing that needs to be checked off,” she commented.

“What else do you have to do today?” I wanted to know.

“Only a little bit,” Jumilah supplied. “I’ve got to sort out all the financial side of things, I’m just on the way to the bank down there now to make sure that everything’s in order in that department. There are no problems, I just have to keep it that way.”

She laughed.

“And then I’ve got to visit the hairdresser and make sure that the appointment’s booked,” Jumilah added.

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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'.