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

really likes you, you know.”

looked up

likes you

was sitting right next to my

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

frowned.

like me?” he asked.

I

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

could go on this trip together if you want.”

“Later,” he said.

can wait a few

“I’m hungry.”

do you want to

he replied

help it, I smiled.

Lily and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go

frowned, thinking.

with Miki, he adores walks.”

he agreed.

pet’s toys and lend them to Eloim, got up, and went

instant success with both pets and I

stove and scrounge up some quick

when I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked,

door, dog in hand so that he would not

called for a lost child at Mont-Royal?” the policeman asked me. He was

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

to Eloim and hugged him

The policeman stood aside next to my door so that I could close it.

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

“No,” I heard from

to me. I understood what he wanted and gave him the treat

down,” he told Miki, who complied immediately.

the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

“No, Eloim. Miki has had too many treats already. This will be enough for today.”

got back on

back home?”

said. “Spaghetti.”

looked apologetically to his

to the police station. I don’t mind if he eats it first,” I said. “Or not.”

looked really

he went back to playing with Lily.

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

and

nodded.

“Do you still need me?” asked

you officer,” the father said, shaking his

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

fine,” I said, and shook

and we were

him, extending my hand.

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

what?”