I pulled up the car in a space I eventually found in Parramatta. Retrieving my handbag from the front passenger seat, I stepped out once the traffic was clear. I locked the car, then scurried quickly in the direction of the parking meter. Opening my purse, I slotted a few gold coins into the machine.
“Hi there, Nina,” a strong voice greeted me, and I glanced up to see Lawrence standing about a metre away.
The machine spurted out a ticket, which I accepted, then it told me to have a nice day. I smiled, briefly.
“Hello, Lawrence,” I replied.
He was standing alone.
“Thank you for coming,” Lawrence told me.
“No worries, it’s about coming together to commemorate your father,” I replied.
I took the ticket back to the car, to stash on the dashboard like I was supposed to. As I withdrew from the vehicle, my heart started to beat a bit faster.
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'.