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.”

“Lily really likes you,

up at me.

“Miki likes you too.”

was sitting right next to my

are a lot of other people

He frowned.

like me?”

“I do,” I replied.

another on

on this trip together if you

he said.

can wait

hungry.”

do you want to

“Spaghetti,” he replied with determination.

help it, I smiled.

I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take a

He frowned, thinking.

with Miki, he adores walks.”

he

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

with both pets and I could hear him laugh

scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had nothing ready.

on the door. Miki barked, but

suspicions that were confirmed as I opened the door, dog in hand so that he would

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

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

room straight to Eloim and

to my door so that

him to bother the men, and took a treat from one of my drawers

I heard from

Eloim extricated himself from whom I assumed was his father and came to me. I understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so that he would give it to

told Miki, who

he gave the treat.

told me.

treats

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

you ready to go back home?” I asked the child.

said.

looked apologetically to

going to the police station. I don’t mind if he eats it first,”

looked really strangely at me.

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

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

take you on your offer and let him eat first,”

I nodded.

need me?” asked the policeman.

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

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

I said, and shook his hand

we were left

him, extending my hand.

hands. “How

what?”