I left university at lunchtime after my morning lecture. I caught the bus back down the M2 to Windsor Road, then strolled the rest of the way home. When I arrived back in the driveway, I was only puffing a little, mostly due to the heavy garments which concealed my arms and legs. Yet, I knew that, without them, the winter weather would likewise strangle me. Unlocking the car, I slipped myself into the driver’s seat and backed out of the driveway, setting off towards Bandile’s flat. I headed into Blacktown and passed under the train line, then turned the corner past a little reserve which was engulfed by the sign bearing its name. Then, I pulled into the kerb as I noticed Bandile bounding towards the car. He opened the passenger side door and sat down, before closing it again.
“Thanks for driving me,” Bandile said.
“No worries,” I replied. “Thanks for coming. God help us all.”
I didn’t know what to say back to him, so I left the silence as an opening. He didn’t choose to fill it before our arrival. When Bandile next spoke, he was greeting Delilah at the café. The table, of course, was triangular, just to be hip and funky. Glancing around the room I spotted a plaque on the wall, surrounded by Aboriginal artwork, acknowledging the Traditional Custodians.
“I missed you, you know,” he told her.
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'.
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