I slipped into the back seat of Mum’s car. She looked over her shoulder at me.
“You didn’t have your phone with you today, did you?” Mum wanted to know.
“I’m sorry, it went flat this morning, but I did have it with me,” I answered.
Mum’s features were droopy, caused my heart to beat faster with concern.
“What’s the matter?” I begged.
Mitchell dominated my thoughts, like a balloon being blown up, with each puff another thud of my heart.
“The body they found at Cronulla,” Mum revealed. “It is Joel Griffiths.”
My stomach sank. Eventually Mum must have pulled away from the kerb and drove home. We swapped over and she headed inside. I waited until I had turned the corner before I burst into tears, on the way to the doctor for an appointment. While I tried to ring Mick, he didn’t answer. My stomach ached, although I didn’t believe that was something the doctor could remedy. Pulling the car up in the underground carpark, I lifted my sunglasses from my eyes to my greasy pink hair. I switched off the ignition, then grabbed my handbag and carefully stepped out, shutting the door behind me. After locking the car, I walked through the shopping centre carpark, drawn like a moth to a frame to the bright light which surrounded the escalator. The automatic doors parted in front of me, so I stepped through and walked onto the escalator, which transported me up and into the shops.
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'.