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

“Lily really likes you,

looked up

likes you

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

are a lot of

frowned.

like me?” he asked.

do,” I replied.

hand on Lily and another on Miki and tried to coordinate his double

trip together

he said.

wait a few more

“I’m hungry.”

want

replied with determination.

couldn’t help it, I smiled.

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

frowned, thinking.

Miki, he adores walks.”

“Okay,” he agreed.

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

both pets and I could hear

the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as

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

were confirmed as I opened the door, dog in hand so that he would not rush into the corridor and try to

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

here. We were about to go to the police

man rushed inside the room straight to Eloim

next to my door so that I could

As I didn’t want him to bother the men, and took a treat from one of my drawers

heard from

came to me. I understood what he wanted and gave him

told Miki, who complied immediately.

Then he gave the treat.

he told

has had too many treats already. This will be enough for today.”

got back on

back home?” I asked the

he said. “Spaghetti.”

apologetically to his father.

going to the police station. I don’t mind if he eats it first,” I said. “Or

looked really strangely at

went back to playing

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

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

nodded.

me?” asked

father said, shaking his hand.

I was about to be left

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

left and we were left alone.

Mila,” I told him, extending my hand.

“Xander.” We shook hands. “How did

“Do what?”