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.”

likes you, you

looked up

you too.”

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

“I’m sure there are a lot of other people who like you

frowned.

“Do you like me?” he

I replied.

one hand on Lily and another on Miki

“We could go on this trip together

“Later,” he said.

nodded. “We can wait a few more

“I’m hungry.”

“What do you want

replied

it, I smiled.

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

He frowned, thinking.

could walk with Miki, he adores walks.”

“Okay,” he agreed.

and lend them to Eloim, got

success with both pets and I could

up some quick

cooked, and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on

that were confirmed as I opened the door, dog in hand so that he would not rush into the corridor and

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

We were about to go to the police station in a few minutes. He’s playing with the cat in the

inside the room straight to Eloim

The policeman stood aside next to my door

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

his father and came to me. I understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so that he would

told Miki, who

gave the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

“No, Eloim. Miki has had too many treats already.

pouted, and behind him, his father got back on his

to go back home?” I asked the child.

he said.

to his father.

sorry. 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 not.”

really

Eloim, as he went back to playing with Lily.

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

and

I nodded.

“Do you still need me?” asked

the father said, shaking his hand.

I was about to be left

said, and shook his hand in turn.

He left and we were

I told him, extending

hands. “How did you do that?”

“Do what?”