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?”

pet Lily.”

you,

looked up at me.

“Miki likes you too.”

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

are a lot of other people who

frowned.

“Do you like me?”

“I do,” I replied.

Lily and another on Miki and tried to coordinate

trip together if you want.”

he said.

I nodded. “We can wait a few more minutes.”

“I’m hungry.”

want to

he replied with determination.

I couldn’t help it,

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

He frowned, thinking.

with Miki, he adores walks.”

“Okay,” he agreed.

them to Eloim, got up, and went

pets and

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

heard knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim didn’t stop

I had my suspicions that were confirmed as I opened the door, dog in hand so that

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

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

man rushed inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him talking

door so that I could close it.

him, “Sit.” As I didn’t want him to bother the men, and took

I heard from the

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

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

gave the treat.

told me.

Miki has had too many treats already. This will be enough for

pouted, and behind him, his father got

to go back home?” I asked the child.

“No,” he said.

I looked apologetically to his father.

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.

The man looked really

boomed Eloim, as he went back to

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

your offer and let him eat first,” he told

nodded.

still need me?”

“No, thank you officer,” the father said,

too. I was about to be left

“I will be fine,” I said, and shook his

left and we were

I told him, extending my hand.

“How did you do that?”

“Do what?”