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.”

“Lily really likes you, you know.”

looked up at me.

you too.”

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

sure there are a lot of other people who like you too.”

He frowned.

like me?” he

do,” I replied.

hand on Lily and another on Miki and

go on this trip

he said.

“We can wait a few more minutes.”

“I’m hungry.”

you want to

he replied with determination.

help it, I smiled.

“How about, you play with Lily and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take a walk together?”

frowned,

walk with Miki, he adores walks.”

“Okay,” he agreed.

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

pets

water on the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce

cooked, and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked, but

my suspicions that were confirmed as I opened the door, dog in hand so that he would not

policeman asked me. He was tall and kind-looking. Behind him

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

man rushed inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him talking softly.

stood aside next to my door so that I could

bother the men, and took

heard from the living room.

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

down,” he told Miki, who complied immediately.

the treat.

told me.

Eloim. Miki has had too many treats

got back on

ready to go back home?” I asked

he said. “Spaghetti.”

looked apologetically to his father.

sorry. He told me he was hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to

really strangely at

Eloim, as he went back to playing with Lily.

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

offer and let him eat first,” he told me.

nodded.

me?” asked the policeman.

the father said, shaking his hand.

then looked at me, aiming his question at me too. I was about to be left alone with a stranger

fine,” I said, and shook his hand

and we were

Mila,” I told him,

“Xander.” We shook hands. “How

“Do what?”