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,

He looked up at

you

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

a lot of other

He frowned.

“Do you like me?” he

“I do,” I replied.

put one hand on Lily and another on Miki and tried

go on this trip

he said.

wait a few more minutes.”

hungry.”

want to

he replied with determination.

help it, I

and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve

He frowned, thinking.

Miki, he adores

he agreed.

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

an instant success with both pets and

up some quick

was nearly cooked, and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked,

dog in hand so that he would not

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

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

inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him talking

my door so that I

want him to bother the men, and took a treat from

I heard from the living

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 Miki.

told Miki, who

Then he gave the

told

many treats already. This will be enough for today.”

behind him, his father got back on his feed with

go back home?” I asked the child.

said.

to his father.

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

man looked really

Eloim, as he went back to playing with

the cop and father. He looked at his son then

“Maybe I will take you on your offer and let him

nodded.

“Do you still need me?” asked the policeman.

thank you officer,” the father

me too. I was about to

said, and shook his

left and we were

told him, extending

shook hands. “How did you do

what?”