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 really likes you, you know.”

up at

“Miki likes you

the dog that was sitting right next to my

there are a lot of other people who like

frowned.

you like me?” he asked.

I replied.

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

could go on this trip together

he said.

can wait a few more

hungry.”

want to eat?”

he replied with determination.

help it, I smiled.

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

frowned, thinking.

Miki, he adores walks.”

“Okay,” he agreed.

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

success with both pets and

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

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

in hand so that he would not rush into the corridor and try to

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

here. We were about to go to the police station in a few minutes. He’s

straight to Eloim

my door so that I could

told him, “Sit.” As I didn’t want him to bother the men, and took a

I heard from the living room.

was his father and came to me. I understood what he wanted and gave him

he told Miki,

the treat.

he told

too many treats already. This will

and behind him, his father got

to go back home?”

he said. “Spaghetti.”

to

spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t mind if he eats it first,” I said.

really strangely at me.

went back to playing with Lily.

father. He looked at his son then back at me, puzzled.

on your offer and let him

nodded.

still need me?” asked

thank you officer,” the father said, shaking

was about to be left

and shook his hand in turn.

and we were left alone.

“I’m Mila,” I told him, extending

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

what?”