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.”

you, you know.”

He looked up at

you

sitting right next

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

He frowned.

me?” he

I replied.

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

trip

“Later,” he said.

nodded. “We can wait a few more

hungry.”

“What do you want

replied with

it, I smiled.

Lily and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take a walk together?”

frowned, thinking.

with Miki,

he agreed.

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

success with both pets and I could hear

put water on the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade

pasta was nearly cooked, and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim didn’t

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

He was tall and kind-looking. Behind him was a handsome man in a

“Yes, gentlemen,” I said moving aside. “He’s here. We were about to go to the police station in a few minutes. He’s playing with the cat in the

man rushed inside the room straight to Eloim and

stood aside next to my door so that I could close

bother the men, and

“No,” I heard from the

Eloim extricated himself 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

Miki, who complied immediately.

he gave the

told me.

many treats already.

pouted, and behind him, his father got back on his feed with wide eyes.

go back home?” I asked the child.

said. “Spaghetti.”

to his father.

he was hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to

man looked really strangely at me.

he went back

cop and father. He looked at his son then back

you on your offer and let him eat first,” he told

nodded.

me?”

father said,

at me, aiming his question at me too. I was about to be left alone with

shook his hand in

we were

told him, extending my

hands. “How did you do that?”

what?”