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 Lily.”

likes you, you know.”

He looked up at me.

you too.”

at the dog that was sitting right next to

there are a lot of other people who like you

frowned.

“Do you like me?” he

“I do,” I replied.

on Lily and another on Miki and

this trip together if you want.”

he

can wait a

hungry.”

do you want

replied with determination.

I couldn’t help it,

while I prepare some spaghetti, and

frowned, thinking.

walk with Miki,

“Okay,” he

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

an instant success with both pets and

the stove and scrounge up some quick

The pasta was nearly cooked, and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim didn’t stop playing and laughing.

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

was tall and kind-looking. Behind him was a handsome man in a blazer looking anxious.

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

inside the room straight to

to my door so

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

I heard from

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

he told Miki,

Then he gave the

told me.

“No, Eloim. Miki has had too many treats already. This

behind him, his father got back on his feed with

go back home?” I

he said. “Spaghetti.”

I looked apologetically to his

and I promised him spaghetti before going to the police

looked really strangely at

boomed Eloim, as he went back to

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

on your offer and let him eat first,” he

nodded.

“Do you still need me?”

thank you officer,” the father said, shaking

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

said, and shook his hand

He left and we were left

told him, extending my hand.

We shook hands. “How did you do

“Do what?”