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.”

likes you,

He looked up at me.

“Miki likes you too.”

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

He frowned.

me?” he asked.

“I do,” I

another on Miki and tried to coordinate his double

this trip together if

he

can wait a few more

“I’m hungry.”

do you want to

“Spaghetti,” he replied with

I couldn’t help it, I smiled.

you play with Lily and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can

He frowned, thinking.

could walk with Miki, he adores

“Okay,” he

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

an instant success with both pets and I could hear him

stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as

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

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

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

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

the room straight to Eloim and

policeman 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 my

from

assumed was his father and came to me. I understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so that he would give it

he told Miki, who complied immediately.

gave the

he told

Eloim. Miki has had too many treats already. This will be enough for

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

back home?” I asked the

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

I looked apologetically to

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

man looked really

boomed Eloim, as he went back

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

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

nodded.

you still need me?” asked the

father said, shaking his

was about to be left alone with a stranger in my

fine,” I said, and shook

left and we

him, extending my hand.

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

“Do what?”