All That Is Left Behind

“911, what is your emergency?” asked the operator.

“I found a lost child at Mont-Royal’s Park, he doesn’t talk much so I don’t know his name yet, but he needs to pee so I’m taking him to my place.” I gave her the address and a description of the child, and every other information I had managed to get out of him. I also promised to bring him to a police station after, and gave them my phone number, just in case.

He followed me quietly, holding my hand all the way until we reached my apartment.

“Do you need help, sweetie?” I asked him.

He shook his head and closed the door behind him.

I smiled and let him do his thing.

I put my bag down and grabbed my purse so that I would have my ID and everything I could need at the police station, and googled the closest police station.

“KITTY!” he screamed.

I jumped out of my skin.

I didn’t even realise he was out.

“Kitty,” he told me loudly, pointing at my cat.

“Don’t scream, please. You will scare her,” I said.

He smacked his hands on his mouth. “You can talk softly, though. Her name is Lily and she’s really sweet.”

“Can I pet Lily?” he asked.

I think it’s the longest sentence he ever addressed directly at me.

“Yes, you can,” I said. “But I think you scared her a little when you screamed. Do you want me to find her and bring her here so you can pet her?”

He nodded and I complied.

We sat in my small living-room, and I let him pet Lily for a little while.

“What is your name?” I asked.

He said nothing and continued to caress Lily’s head carefully.

“You know the name of Lily and Miki, but they don’t know your name.”

“Eloim,” he admitted.

“Do you know your last name?”

He said nothing.

Well, at least I had a first name.

“There is someplace we should go to, Eloim.”

He shook his head.

“I think your family is looking for you.”

“No.”

“You don’t think they’re looking for you?”

I pet

likes you, you know.”

He looked up at

likes you

He looked at the dog that was sitting right next to my thigh and looking at

lot of other people who

He frowned.

me?” he

do,” I replied.

hand on Lily and another on

could go on this trip together if you want.”

he said.

I nodded. “We can wait a few

hungry.”

you want

he replied with determination.

help it, I smiled.

I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we

frowned, thinking.

Miki, he adores

“Okay,” he

the pet’s toys and lend them to

success with both pets and I could hear him laugh enthusiastically.

up some quick homemade

pasta was nearly cooked, and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim

suspicions that were confirmed as I opened the door, dog in hand so that

Miss. You called for a lost child at Mont-Royal?” the policeman asked me. He was tall and kind-looking. Behind him was a handsome

to the police station in a few minutes. He’s playing with the cat

man rushed inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him talking softly.

The policeman stood aside next to my door so that I could close it.

the men, and took a treat from one

I heard from the living

I understood what

Miki, who complied immediately.

the

he told

“No, Eloim. Miki has had too many treats already. This will be enough for

and behind him, his father got back

back

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

to his father.

“I’m sorry. He told me he was hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to the police station. I

looked really strangely at me.

boomed Eloim, as he went back to playing with

I said again, looking between the cop and father. He looked at his

you on your offer and let him eat first,” he told me.

I nodded.

still need me?” asked

officer,” the father

his question at me too. I was about to be left alone with a stranger in my home after all.

and shook his hand in turn. “Thank

left and we were

him,

“Xander.” We shook hands. “How did

what?”