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, you know.”

looked up at me.

“Miki likes you

He looked at the dog that was sitting right next to my thigh and looking at the

are a lot of other people who like

frowned.

“Do you like me?”

“I do,” I replied.

one hand on Lily and another on Miki and tried to

trip

he said.

“We can wait a few more minutes.”

hungry.”

do you want to eat?”

he replied with

help it, I smiled.

about, you play with Lily and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once

He frowned,

“We could walk with Miki, he adores

he agreed.

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

was an instant success with both pets and I could

up some quick homemade

knocks on the door.

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

at Mont-Royal?” the policeman asked me. He was tall and

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

room straight to Eloim and hugged him

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

want him to bother the men,

“No,” I heard from the

assumed was his father and came to me. I understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so

he told Miki,

the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

treats already. This will

pouted, and behind him, his father got back on

you ready to go back

“No,” he said.

to his father.

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

really strangely at me.

“Spaghetti,” boomed Eloim, as he went back

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

on your offer and let him eat

nodded.

you still need me?” asked

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

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

shook his hand in turn. “Thank you.”

and we were

told him, extending my hand.

“How did you do that?”

“Do what?”