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.”

“Lily really likes you,

He looked up

you too.”

right next to my thigh and

are a lot of

frowned.

me?” he asked.

I

put one hand on Lily and another on

on this trip together if you want.”

“Later,” he said.

“We can wait a few

“I’m hungry.”

“What do you want to eat?”

replied with

couldn’t help it, I smiled.

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

He frowned,

could walk with Miki,

he agreed.

toys and lend them to Eloim,

both pets and I

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

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

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

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

to the police station in a few minutes.

man rushed inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him talking

my door so that I could close it.

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

“No,” I heard from

himself from whom I assumed was his father and came to me. I understood what he wanted

“Lie down,” he told Miki, who complied immediately.

Then he gave the treat.

he told me.

many treats already. This will be enough for today.”

father got back on his feed with wide eyes.

go back home?” I asked the child.

“No,” he said.

I looked apologetically to

was hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t

looked really

he went back to playing with Lily.

the cop and father. He looked at his son then back

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

nodded.

you still need me?” asked the policeman.

“No, thank you officer,” the father said, shaking his hand.

question at me too. I was about to be left alone

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

we were left alone.

“I’m Mila,” I told him, extending my

“Xander.” We shook hands. “How did

what?”