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, you know.”

up at me.

you too.”

sitting right next to my thigh and looking at

of other people who like

He frowned.

“Do you like me?” he

do,” I

and another on Miki and tried to

“We could go on this trip together if you

“Later,” he

I nodded. “We can wait a few

hungry.”

you want to

he replied with determination.

couldn’t help it, I

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

frowned,

Miki, he

“Okay,” he agreed.

toys and lend them to Eloim, got up, and

was an instant success with both pets and I

the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had

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

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

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

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

straight to Eloim and hugged him

to my door so

him to bother the men, and took a treat from one of my drawers to give it to him.

heard from the living room.

understood what he

Miki, who

Then he gave the

“Another,” he told

too many treats already. This will

him, his father got back on his feed

go back home?”

he said. “Spaghetti.”

apologetically to his father.

going to the police station. I don’t mind if

man looked really strangely at me.

“Spaghetti,” boomed Eloim, as he went back to playing

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

and let him eat first,” he told me.

I nodded.

still need me?”

thank you officer,” the father

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

fine,” I said, and shook

He left and we were left alone.

I told him, extending my hand.

“Xander.” We shook hands. “How

“Do what?”