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

really likes you, you

up

likes you too.”

right next to my thigh

there are a lot of other people who like you too.”

frowned.

you like me?” he

“I do,” I replied.

Lily and another on Miki and tried to coordinate his

“We could go on this trip together if you

he said.

nodded. “We can wait a few

hungry.”

want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied

help it,

and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then

frowned, thinking.

with Miki, he adores

he agreed.

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

with both pets and I

the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had nothing ready.

heard knocks on the door.

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

a lost child at Mont-Royal?” the policeman asked me. He was tall

go to the police

rushed inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him talking softly.

stood aside next to my door so that I

my dog 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 give it to

heard from the

understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so that he would

told Miki, who complied immediately.

gave the treat.

he told

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

pouted, and behind him, his father got back

ready to go back home?” I asked the child.

said. “Spaghetti.”

looked apologetically to his

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

really strangely at

went back to

said again, looking between the cop and father. He looked at his

you on your offer and let him

nodded.

me?” asked the

officer,” the father said, shaking his hand.

question at me too. I was about to be left alone with a stranger in my

and shook his hand in turn.

left and we were left alone.

him, extending my

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

“Do what?”