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, you know.”

up

you too.”

dog that was sitting right next to my

lot of other people who like

He frowned.

me?” he asked.

do,” I

another on Miki and

could go on this trip together if you want.”

he

“We can wait a few more minutes.”

hungry.”

want to

“Spaghetti,” he replied with determination.

help it, I smiled.

prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten

He frowned,

could walk with Miki, he adores

he agreed.

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

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

and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as

heard knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim didn’t stop

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

“Hello, Miss. You called for a lost child at Mont-Royal?” the policeman asked me. He was tall and kind-looking. Behind him was a handsome man in

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

the room straight to Eloim

The policeman stood aside next to my door so that I could

As I didn’t want him to bother the men, and took a treat from

heard from

understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so that

down,” he told Miki, who

the

told me.

Eloim. Miki has had too many treats already. This will

him, his father got back on his feed with

ready to go back home?”

said.

I looked apologetically to his father.

I promised him spaghetti before going to

The man looked really strangely at

boomed 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

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

nodded.

“Do you still need me?” asked the

father said,

policeman then looked at me, aiming his question at me too. I was about

shook his hand in

and we were left alone.

him,

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

what?”