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

you, you know.”

He looked up at me.

likes you too.”

right next to my thigh and looking at the scene

are a lot of other people who like you

He frowned.

me?” he asked.

“I do,” I

and another on Miki and tried to coordinate his double petting.

“We could go on this trip together if you want.”

he

“We can wait a few more minutes.”

hungry.”

“What do you want

he replied with determination.

help it,

some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take a

frowned, thinking.

with Miki, he

he

and lend them

He was an instant success with both pets and I

up some quick homemade sauce

knocks on the door. Miki barked, but

hand so that he would

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.

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

the room straight to Eloim and hugged him

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

want him to bother the men, and took a treat from one of

I heard from

understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so that he would give it to

Miki, who complied immediately.

the

he told me.

too many treats already. This will be

father got back on his feed with wide eyes.

to go back home?”

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

The man looked really strangely at me.

as he went back to playing

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

“Maybe I will take you on your offer and let him eat

I nodded.

need me?” asked

the father said,

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

shook his hand in turn.

left and we were left

Mila,” I told him, extending my hand.

“Xander.” We shook hands. “How

“Do what?”