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.”

up

“Miki likes you

was sitting right next to my thigh and looking at the scene joyfully.

sure there are a lot of other people who like you too.”

He frowned.

“Do you like me?”

“I do,” I replied.

on Lily and another on

go on this trip together if you

he

nodded. “We can wait a few

“I’m hungry.”

“What do you want to

he replied with

couldn’t help it, I

while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take a walk

frowned,

walk with Miki, he adores walks.”

he agreed.

and lend them to Eloim, got up, and went to the kitchen.

success with both pets and I

stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I

was nearly cooked, and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim didn’t stop playing and

confirmed as I opened the door, dog in hand so that he would not rush into the corridor and try

policeman asked me. He was tall and kind-looking. Behind him was a handsome man in a

moving aside. “He’s here. We were about to go to the police station in a

inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged

stood aside next to my door so that I could close

put my dog down, and told him, “Sit.” As I didn’t want him to bother the men,

I heard from

I understood what he wanted and gave

he told Miki,

Then he gave the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

Eloim. Miki has had too many treats already. This will be enough for today.”

got back on

ready to go back home?” I asked the child.

said.

I looked apologetically to his

me he was hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to

man looked really strangely at

went back to playing

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

on your offer and let him

I nodded.

you still need me?” asked

father said, shaking his

aiming his question at me too. I was

I said, and shook his

left and we were left alone.

Mila,” I told him, extending my hand.

“Xander.” We shook hands. “How

“Do what?”