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?”

“No, I pet Lily.”

“Lily really likes you, you

He looked up

likes you too.”

right next to

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

frowned.

“Do you like me?” he asked.

do,” I replied.

one hand on Lily and another on Miki

trip together if you

“Later,” he said.

wait a few more

“I’m hungry.”

“What do you want to

“Spaghetti,” he replied

help it,

Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then

He frowned, thinking.

Miki,

he agreed.

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

pets and I could hear him laugh

stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as

on

hand so that he

me. He was tall and

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

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

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

bother the men, and took a treat from

from the living room.

came to me. I understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so that he would give it

he told Miki,

gave the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

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

his father got back on his feed with wide

back home?” I asked the child.

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

apologetically to his

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

really strangely at

he went

and father. He looked at his

you on your offer and let him eat first,”

nodded.

still need me?” asked

you officer,” the father said, shaking his hand.

was about to be left alone with a stranger

and shook his

and we

“I’m Mila,” I told him, extending

“Xander.” We shook hands. “How did you do

“Do what?”