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.”

really likes you, you

looked up at me.

you too.”

was sitting right next to

“I’m sure there are a lot of other people who

frowned.

like me?” he asked.

“I do,” I

He put one hand on Lily and another on Miki and tried to coordinate

trip together if you

he

wait a few

hungry.”

want

“Spaghetti,” he replied with determination.

it,

prepare some spaghetti, and then

He frowned,

with Miki,

“Okay,” he agreed.

of the pet’s toys and lend them to Eloim,

pets and I could hear him laugh enthusiastically.

and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as

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

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

at Mont-Royal?” the policeman asked me. He was tall and kind-looking. Behind him

to the police station in

straight to Eloim and hugged

The policeman stood aside next to my door so

didn’t want him to bother the men, and took a treat from one of my drawers

from

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

told Miki, who complied immediately.

gave the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

had too many treats already. This will be enough for

and behind him, his father got back on his feed with

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

he said.

apologetically to his father.

going to the police station. I don’t mind if he eats

looked really strangely at

boomed Eloim, as he went back to playing with Lily.

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

your offer and let him eat first,”

I nodded.

you still need me?” asked the policeman.

you officer,” the father said, shaking

me too. I was about

and shook his

He left and we

Mila,” I told him,

“Xander.” We shook hands. “How

what?”