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.”

really likes you, you

up at me.

likes you too.”

was sitting right next to my

sure there are a lot of

frowned.

you like me?” he asked.

I replied.

another on Miki and tried to coordinate his

this trip

“Later,” he

wait a

hungry.”

want to eat?”

replied

it, I smiled.

prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take a walk together?”

He frowned, thinking.

walk with Miki,

“Okay,” he

the pet’s toys and lend them to Eloim, got up, and went to the kitchen.

pets and I could hear him

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

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

in hand so that he would

Miss. 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

here. We were about to go to the police station in a few minutes. He’s playing with the cat in

room straight to Eloim

The policeman stood aside next to my door so that I

bother the men,

I heard from the living room.

came to me. I understood what he

he told Miki, who

he gave the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

had too many treats

got back

to go back

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

looked apologetically to his

me he was hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t mind

The man looked really strangely

he went back to

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

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

nodded.

“Do you still need me?”

father said,

too. I was about to be left alone with a stranger in my home after all.

be fine,” I said, and shook his hand

left and we were left alone.

“I’m Mila,” I told him, extending

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

“Do what?”