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.”

likes you, you know.”

He looked up at me.

likes you too.”

right next to my thigh

a lot of other

He frowned.

“Do you like me?”

do,” I replied.

hand on Lily and another on Miki and tried to coordinate his double

“We could go on this trip

“Later,” he said.

“We can wait

“I’m hungry.”

do you want to eat?”

he replied with determination.

couldn’t help it, I smiled.

and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then

He frowned, thinking.

Miki, he

“Okay,” he agreed.

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

was an instant success with both pets and I could

on the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade

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

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

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 looking

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

straight to Eloim and hugged him talking softly.

my door so that I

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

from

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

down,” he told Miki, who complied immediately.

gave the treat.

told me.

Eloim. Miki has had too many treats

and behind him, his father got back on his feed with

to go back home?” I asked the

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

I looked apologetically to his father.

him spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t mind if he eats it first,” I

looked really strangely at me.

“Spaghetti,” boomed Eloim, as he went back

I said again, looking between the cop and father. He looked at his

I will take you on your offer and let him eat first,” he

nodded.

you still need me?” asked the policeman.

officer,” the father said, shaking his hand.

question at me too. I was about to be left alone with a stranger in my home

shook his hand in turn. “Thank you.”

and we were

told him, extending my hand.

We shook hands. “How did you do that?”

what?”