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?”

pet Lily.”

likes you,

He looked up at me.

“Miki likes you too.”

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

sure there are a lot of other people

He frowned.

you like me?” he asked.

I replied.

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

go on this trip together

“Later,” he said.

wait a

“I’m hungry.”

“What do you want to

replied with

it, I smiled.

Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten

frowned, thinking.

“We could walk with Miki, he

“Okay,” he

them to Eloim, got up, and went to the kitchen.

instant success with both pets and I

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

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

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

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

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

rushed inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him

door so that I could close it.

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

“No,” I heard from the living room.

me. I understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so that he would give

told Miki, who

gave the treat.

“Another,” he told

“No, Eloim. Miki has had too many treats already. This will

Eloim pouted, and behind him, his father got back on

to go back home?” I asked the child.

he said.

apologetically to his father.

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

really strangely

went back to playing with

“I’m sorry,” I said again, looking between the cop and father. He looked at

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

I nodded.

me?” asked the policeman.

officer,” the father

at me too. I was about

shook his hand in turn. “Thank you.”

we were left

“I’m Mila,” I told him, extending my hand.

“Xander.” We shook hands. “How

“Do what?”