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

really likes you,

looked up at me.

likes you

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

are a lot of other people who like you too.”

He frowned.

me?” he asked.

“I do,” I

on Miki and tried to

“We could go on this trip together if you

he said.

wait a few more minutes.”

hungry.”

do you want to

he replied with

couldn’t help it, I

and then once you’ve eaten we can go

He frowned,

walk with Miki, he adores

“Okay,” he

pet’s toys and lend them to Eloim, got up, and went to the kitchen.

both pets and I could hear him laugh

and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had

sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door. Miki

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

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

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

straight to Eloim and hugged him

next to my door

dog down, and told him, “Sit.” As I didn’t want him to bother the men, and took a treat from one of my drawers to give it

“No,” I heard from the living room.

himself from whom I assumed was his father and came to me. I understood what he wanted and gave

told Miki, who complied immediately.

the treat.

he told me.

“No, Eloim. Miki has had too many treats

Eloim pouted, and behind him, his father got back on his feed with wide eyes.

back home?”

“No,” he said.

I looked apologetically 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

looked really strangely

Eloim, as he went back to

cop and father. He looked at his son then back at me,

your offer and let him

nodded.

still need me?” asked the policeman.

you officer,” the father

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

and shook his hand in turn.

and we were left alone.

told him, extending my

“How did you do

“Do what?”