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 at me.

you

dog that was sitting right next to my thigh and looking

lot of other people

frowned.

me?” he asked.

I replied.

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

go on this trip together

“Later,” he said.

wait a

“I’m hungry.”

“What do you want

“Spaghetti,” he replied with

help it, I smiled.

I prepare some spaghetti, and then once

He frowned,

walk with Miki, he adores walks.”

he

toys and lend them to Eloim, got up, and

instant success with both pets and I could hear him laugh enthusiastically.

I put water on the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had nothing

knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim didn’t stop playing and laughing.

so that he would not rush into the

policeman asked me. He was tall and kind-looking. Behind him was a handsome man in a blazer looking anxious.

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

the room straight to Eloim

stood aside next to my door so that

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

from

I understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so that he

he told Miki, who complied

he gave the treat.

told me.

Miki has had too many treats already.

behind him, his father got back

go back home?” I asked the

he said.

looked apologetically to his father.

promised him spaghetti before going to the police station.

man looked really strangely at

Eloim, as he went back to playing

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

I will take you on your offer and let him eat

nodded.

you still need me?”

officer,” the father said, shaking his hand.

then looked at me, aiming his question at me too. I was about to be left alone with a stranger in my home

and shook his hand in turn. “Thank you.”

we

I told him, extending my

“How did you

“Do what?”