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

likes you, you

He looked up at me.

likes you too.”

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

there are a lot of other people who like you

He frowned.

me?” he asked.

“I do,” I replied.

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

on this trip together if you

“Later,” he

“We can wait a few more minutes.”

“I’m hungry.”

“What do you want

replied with determination.

it, I

“How about, you play with Lily and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take

He frowned, thinking.

walk with Miki, he

“Okay,” he agreed.

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

was an instant success with both pets and

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

nearly cooked, and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim

that were confirmed as I opened the door, dog in hand so that he would

was tall and kind-looking. Behind him was

to the police station in a few minutes. He’s playing with the cat in the living room.”

straight to Eloim and hugged

aside next to my door so that I

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

I heard from the

and came to me. I understood what he wanted

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

gave the treat.

“Another,” he told

treats already. This will be enough for today.”

his father got back on his feed with

ready to go back home?” I asked

he said. “Spaghetti.”

apologetically to his father.

told me he was hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t

man looked really strangely at

he went back to

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

you on your offer and let

nodded.

“Do you still need me?” asked the policeman.

officer,” the father said, shaking his hand.

question at me too. I was about to be

fine,” I said, and shook his hand

He left and we were left alone.

Mila,” I told him,

“How did you do that?”

“Do what?”