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

“Lily really likes you, you know.”

He looked up at me.

“Miki likes you

dog that was sitting right next to my thigh and looking

of other

He frowned.

me?” he asked.

I

hand on Lily and another on Miki and

“We could go on this trip together

he

I nodded. “We can wait a few more

hungry.”

do you want to

“Spaghetti,” he replied with

help it, I

“How about, you play with Lily and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go

He frowned, thinking.

with Miki, he

he agreed.

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

an instant success with both pets and I could hear him laugh enthusiastically.

the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had nothing

The pasta was nearly cooked, and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the

my suspicions that were confirmed as I opened the door, dog in hand so that he would not rush into the corridor and try to impress the cop.

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

about to go to the police station in a

the room straight to Eloim and hugged

aside next to my door so that I could

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 to him.

I heard from the

from whom I assumed was his father and came to me. I understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so that

down,” he told Miki,

Then he gave the treat.

told me.

had too many treats already. This will be enough

Eloim pouted, and behind him, his father got

go back

he said. “Spaghetti.”

looked apologetically to

going to the police station. I don’t mind

looked really strangely at

went back to playing with Lily.

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

your offer and let him eat first,” he told

nodded.

“Do you still need me?”

father said, shaking

question at me too. I was about to be left alone

fine,” I said, and shook his

and we were left alone.

“I’m Mila,” I told him, extending my hand.

We shook hands. “How did you

“Do what?”