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 Lily.”

really likes you, you know.”

He looked up at me.

likes you too.”

at the dog that was sitting right next

sure there are a lot of other

He frowned.

“Do you like me?”

do,” I replied.

on Miki and tried to coordinate his double petting.

this trip

he said.

can wait

“I’m hungry.”

do you want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied with

I couldn’t help it, I

and then once you’ve

He frowned, thinking.

“We could walk with Miki, he adores walks.”

he agreed.

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

pets and I could hear him

I put water on the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had

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

I had my suspicions that were confirmed as I opened the door, dog in hand so that he would not

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

were about to go to the police station in a few minutes.

rushed inside the room straight to Eloim and

policeman stood aside next to my door so that I could close it.

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 to him.

“No,” I heard from the

father and came to me. I understood what he wanted and gave

“Lie down,” he told Miki, who complied immediately.

the

he told

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

behind him, his father got back on his feed with

to go back home?” I asked

he said. “Spaghetti.”

looked apologetically to his father.

spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t

really strangely

went back to playing with Lily.

the cop and father. He looked at his son

you on your offer and let him eat first,” he told

I nodded.

need me?”

officer,” the father said,

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

I said, and shook his hand in turn.

and we were

told him, extending my hand.

“How did you

what?”