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,

up at me.

likes you too.”

that was sitting right next to my thigh

there are a lot of other people who like

frowned.

me?” he asked.

do,” I replied.

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

trip together if you want.”

he

“We can wait

hungry.”

do you want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied

couldn’t help it, I

and then once you’ve eaten we

frowned, thinking.

Miki, he adores walks.”

“Okay,” he agreed.

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

He was an instant success with both pets and I could hear him laugh enthusiastically.

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

cooked, and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the

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

policeman asked me. He was tall

the police station in a few minutes. He’s playing with the cat

man rushed inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged

door so that I

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

I heard from

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

Miki, who complied immediately.

he gave the

he told me.

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

Eloim pouted, and behind him, his father got back on his feed with wide

you ready to go back home?” I asked the

said. “Spaghetti.”

to

sorry. He told me he was hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t mind if

really

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

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

“Maybe I will take you on your offer and let him eat first,” he told me.

nodded.

me?” asked the

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

me, aiming his question at me too. I was about to be left alone with a stranger in my home after

will be fine,” I said, and shook his hand

He left and we were left

“I’m Mila,” I told him, extending my

“Xander.” We shook hands. “How

what?”