Bella and I were standing in the kitchen at her house, having dawdled back inside to collect dessert.
“Hey, Nina.” Bella paused and placed her palms down on the kitchen bench. “Can I ask your advice on something?”
“Yeah, sure thing,” I agreed, opening the freezer and retrieving the ice cream. “What’s the matter?”
“I know that we’ve still got a bit to come at uni, but I don’t want to wait until we’re done to start doing something,” Bella revealed. “I would like to start my own business. I think it would be fun to offer childcare for events like weddings. I’d get a caravan or something, but that would be expensive.”
“That sounds cool,” I commented, even though it wasn’t necessarily the most helpful advice.
I ran my fingers through my hair while observing Bella’s expression, still hesitant. While I thought some more, my eyes panned to the windows.
“Of course, you’re right,” I affirmed, “that having your own business would be expensive and a lot of hard work.”
I then looked back to Bella, in the hope that she wouldn’t be alarmed.
“But still, it would be cool.” I smiled to reassure her. “You should go for it.”
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'.