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.”

likes you, you know.”

looked up

“Miki likes you too.”

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

“I’m sure there are a lot of other people who like you too.”

frowned.

“Do you like me?” he

I

and another on Miki and tried to coordinate

on this trip together if

he said.

“We can wait a

hungry.”

“What do you want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied with determination.

it,

with Lily and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once

He frowned,

walk with Miki, he

he

some of the pet’s toys and lend them to Eloim, got up, and went to

success with both pets and

some quick homemade sauce

pasta was nearly cooked, and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door. Miki

so that he would not rush into the

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

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

straight to Eloim and hugged him talking softly.

my door so that

him to bother the men,

heard from the living room.

was his father and came to me. I understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so

told Miki, who

gave the

told me.

too many treats already. This will be

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

to go back

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

I looked apologetically to his father.

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

looked really strangely at me.

Eloim, as he went back to playing with Lily.

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

your offer and let him eat first,”

I nodded.

still need me?”

you officer,” the father said,

at me, aiming his question at me too. I was about to be

be fine,” I said, and shook his hand

left and we were left alone.

him, extending

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

what?”