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.”

really likes you, you know.”

He looked up

you too.”

sitting right next to my thigh and looking at

lot of other people who like you too.”

frowned.

“Do you like me?” he

I replied.

one hand on Lily and another on

this trip together if you want.”

he

can wait a few more minutes.”

“I’m hungry.”

you want to

he replied with

help it, I

spaghetti, and then

frowned,

Miki, he adores walks.”

he agreed.

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

with both pets and I could hear

on the stove and scrounge up some

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

in hand so that he would not rush into the corridor and try

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

about to go to the police station

room straight to Eloim and hugged him

next to my door so that I could

my 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

“No,” I heard from

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

Miki, who complied immediately.

he gave the

told

“No, Eloim. Miki has had too many treats already. This will be enough for today.”

father got back on his feed with wide eyes.

to go back

said. “Spaghetti.”

looked apologetically to his father.

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

The man looked really strangely

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

looking between the cop and father. He looked at

offer and let him eat first,” he

I nodded.

still need me?”

the father

looked at me, aiming his question at me too. I was about to be left alone with a stranger

be fine,” I said, and shook his hand

He left and we were left alone.

Mila,” I told him, extending

hands. “How did you do that?”

“Do what?”