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.”

you, you know.”

He looked up at me.

“Miki likes you too.”

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

lot of other people

frowned.

me?”

“I do,” I replied.

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

trip

“Later,” he said.

wait a

hungry.”

do you want to eat?”

he replied with

couldn’t help it, I smiled.

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

He frowned,

walk with Miki, he

“Okay,” he agreed.

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

was an instant success with both pets and I could

I put water on the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce

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

I opened the door, dog in hand so that he would not rush into the corridor and

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

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 man rushed inside the room straight to Eloim

next to my door so that

down, and told him, “Sit.” As I didn’t want him to bother the men, and took a treat from one of my drawers to

from the

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

Miki, who complied

Then he gave the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

too many treats already. This

his father got

back home?” I asked

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

I looked apologetically to his father.

me he was hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to the

man looked really strangely at me.

Eloim, as he went back to playing with Lily.

“I’m sorry,” I said again, looking between the cop and father. He looked at his son then back at me,

take you on your offer and let him eat first,” he

I nodded.

need me?” asked the

thank you officer,” the father said, shaking his hand.

too. I was about to be left alone with a stranger in my home after all.

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

and we

Mila,” I told him, extending my hand.

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

“Do what?”