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 Lily.”

likes you,

up at me.

you too.”

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

there are a lot of other people who

frowned.

like me?” he

“I do,” I replied.

hand on Lily and another on

“We could go on this trip together

“Later,” he said.

“We can wait a

“I’m hungry.”

you want

replied with determination.

couldn’t help it,

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

He frowned, thinking.

could walk with Miki, he adores

“Okay,” he agreed.

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

success with both pets and I could hear him laugh

I put water on the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade

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

hand so that he would not rush into the

He was tall and kind-looking. Behind

were about to go to the police station in a few minutes. He’s playing with the

inside the room straight to Eloim and

to my door so that

As I didn’t want him to bother the men,

“No,” I heard from the

assumed was his father and came to me. I understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so that he would give it

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

he gave the treat.

“Another,” he told

too many treats already. This

him, his father got back on his feed

go back home?” I asked the

said. “Spaghetti.”

to his

He told me he was hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to

man looked really strangely at me.

boomed Eloim, as he went back to playing

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

offer and let him eat first,” he told me.

nodded.

you still need me?” asked

“No, thank you officer,” the father

too. I was

and shook his hand in turn.

left and we were left alone.

Mila,” I told him,

“How did you do

“Do what?”