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?”

pet

likes you, you

looked up at

“Miki likes you too.”

that was sitting right next to my thigh and looking

a lot of other people who like you too.”

He frowned.

“Do you like me?” he asked.

I replied.

Lily and another on Miki and tried to coordinate his double petting.

trip together if

he

wait a few more minutes.”

hungry.”

want to

“Spaghetti,” he replied with determination.

help it, I smiled.

some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go and

He frowned, thinking.

could walk with Miki, he

he

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

pets and I

stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had

was nearly cooked, and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked,

door, dog in hand so that he would not rush into

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

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

inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him

aside next to my door so that I could close it.

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

“No,” I heard from the living room.

understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so that

told Miki, who complied

Then he gave the treat.

he told

has had too many treats already. This will be enough for today.”

his father got back on his feed with wide eyes.

go back home?” I asked the

he said.

apologetically to his father.

sorry. He told me he was hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t mind if he eats it first,” I said. “Or not.”

man looked really strangely at

as he went back

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

and let him eat first,” he told me.

nodded.

you still need me?” asked

the father said, shaking his hand.

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

“I will be fine,” I said, and shook his hand in turn.

He left and we were left alone.

“I’m Mila,” I told him, extending

“How

“Do what?”