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 Lily.”

“Lily really likes you, you

He looked up at me.

likes you too.”

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

sure there are a lot of other

He frowned.

“Do you like me?” he

do,” I replied.

on Miki and tried to coordinate his

trip

“Later,” he

nodded. “We can wait a

hungry.”

do you want

he replied with

couldn’t help it, I smiled.

and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take a

He frowned, thinking.

Miki, he adores

he agreed.

nodded, grabbed some of the pet’s toys and lend them to Eloim, got up, and went to

pets and

and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had nothing ready.

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

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

was tall and kind-looking. Behind him was a

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

inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him talking softly.

stood aside next to my door so that

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

heard from the living

himself from whom I assumed was his father and came to me. I understood what he

he told Miki, who complied immediately.

the

told me.

many treats already. This will be enough for today.”

father got back on his feed

go back home?” I asked the child.

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

I looked apologetically to his

was hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to the police

looked really strangely at

boomed Eloim, as he went back to playing

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

on your offer and let

I nodded.

need me?” asked

you officer,” the father

his question at me too. I was about to

shook his hand in turn. “Thank you.”

left and we were left alone.

I told him, extending my hand.

shook hands. “How did you

what?”