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

really likes you, you

He looked up at me.

“Miki likes you too.”

looked at the dog that was sitting right next to my thigh and looking at the scene joyfully.

a lot of other people who like you too.”

He frowned.

like me?” he asked.

I replied.

Lily and another on Miki and tried to coordinate

this trip together if you want.”

he said.

nodded. “We can wait a few more minutes.”

hungry.”

you want to eat?”

replied with

I couldn’t help it, I smiled.

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

He frowned, thinking.

“We could walk with Miki,

“Okay,” he agreed.

nodded, grabbed some of the pet’s toys and lend them to

both pets and I could hear him laugh enthusiastically.

stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had

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

opened the door, dog in hand so that

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

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

inside the room straight to Eloim and

next to my door so that I could close it.

him, “Sit.” As I didn’t want him to bother the men, and took

from the living room.

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

Miki, who complied immediately.

he gave the treat.

“Another,” he told

Miki has had too many treats already. This will

got back on his feed with

ready to go back

he said. “Spaghetti.”

I looked apologetically to his father.

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

looked really strangely at

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

the cop and father. He looked at his son then back

take you on your offer and let him

nodded.

me?” asked the

officer,” the father said, shaking his hand.

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

fine,” I said, and shook his hand in turn. “Thank

we were

I told him, extending

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

“Do what?”