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.”

you, you

He looked up at me.

likes you

right next to my thigh and

of other people who like you too.”

He frowned.

“Do you like me?” he

I replied.

put one hand on Lily and another on Miki and tried to coordinate his

go on this trip together if

he

can wait a few

“I’m hungry.”

want to eat?”

he replied

help it, I smiled.

and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take a walk together?”

He frowned, thinking.

walk with Miki, he

he

them to Eloim, got up, and went to the kitchen.

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

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

heard knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim

the door, dog in hand so

called for 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

said moving aside. “He’s here. We were about to go to the police station in a few minutes. He’s playing with the cat in the living room.”

the room straight to Eloim and hugged

to my door so

As I didn’t want him to bother the men, and

“No,” I heard from the

came to me. I understood what he wanted and

he told Miki, who complied immediately.

the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

had too many treats already. This will be enough for

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

you ready to go back

he said.

looked apologetically to his

He told me he was hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t mind if he eats it first,” I said. “Or

looked really strangely at me.

he went back to playing with Lily.

father.

offer and let him eat first,” he told me.

I nodded.

me?”

the father said, shaking his

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

shook his hand in turn. “Thank you.”

left and we

him, extending my

“How did you do

what?”