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?”

pet Lily.”

“Lily really likes you,

He looked up at

likes you too.”

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

lot of other people who like you too.”

He frowned.

like me?”

I replied.

Lily and another on Miki and tried to coordinate

on this trip

“Later,” he

wait a

“I’m hungry.”

want to eat?”

he replied

it, I smiled.

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

He frowned, thinking.

could walk with Miki, he adores

“Okay,” he

toys and lend them to Eloim, got up, and went

was an instant success with both pets and

I put water on the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had nothing ready.

on the door. Miki barked,

dog in hand so that he would not rush into

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

gentlemen,” I said moving aside. “He’s here. We were about to go to the police station in a few minutes. He’s playing with the cat in the living room.”

The man rushed inside the room straight to Eloim and

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

“Sit.” As I didn’t want him to bother the men, and took a treat from one of my drawers to give it to

heard from the

from whom I assumed was his father and came to me. I understood what he

told Miki, who

gave the

told me.

many treats

and behind him, his father got back

“Are you ready to go back

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

looked apologetically to his father.

told me he was hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t mind if he eats it first,” I said.

The man looked really strangely at me.

Eloim, as he went back to playing with Lily.

I said again, looking between the cop and father. He looked at his son then back at me, puzzled.

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

I nodded.

“Do you still need me?”

father said, shaking

question at me too. I was about to be

be fine,” I said, and shook his hand

left and we were left

Mila,” I told him, extending my hand.

“Xander.” We shook hands. “How

what?”