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

you,

He looked up at me.

you

dog that was sitting right next

a lot of other people who like you too.”

frowned.

like me?” he asked.

“I do,” I replied.

hand on Lily and another on

go on this trip together if you want.”

he

wait a

hungry.”

want to eat?”

he replied with determination.

I couldn’t help it, I smiled.

spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can

He frowned, thinking.

with Miki,

“Okay,” he agreed.

them to Eloim, got up, and went to the

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 nothing

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

I opened the door, dog in hand so that he would not rush

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

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

rushed inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him

policeman stood aside next to my door so that I

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

from

understood what he

told Miki, who

gave the treat.

he told me.

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

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

back home?” I asked

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

looked apologetically to his father.

him spaghetti before going to the police station.

man looked really

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

looking between the cop and father. He looked at his son then

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

nodded.

you still need me?” asked the

officer,” the father

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

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

we

“I’m Mila,” I told him, extending

hands. “How did

what?”