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 really likes you, you

He looked up at

likes you

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

there are a lot of

He frowned.

me?” he

“I do,” I

another on Miki and tried

on this trip together if you want.”

he

nodded. “We can wait a few more minutes.”

“I’m hungry.”

“What do you want

“Spaghetti,” he replied

help it, I

prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can

frowned, thinking.

with Miki, he adores walks.”

“Okay,” he agreed.

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

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

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

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

hand so that

“Hello, Miss. You called for a lost child at Mont-Royal?” the policeman asked me. He was tall and kind-looking. Behind him was

to the police station in a few

inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him talking

aside next to my door so that

him to bother the men, and took a treat from one of

“No,” I heard from the

understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so that he would give it to

he told Miki, who complied immediately.

gave the

“Another,” he told me.

Miki has had too many treats already. This will be enough for today.”

Eloim pouted, and behind him, his father got back on

you ready to go back home?” I asked the child.

he said. “Spaghetti.”

to

I promised him spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t mind if he eats it

The man looked really

Eloim, as he went back to playing

between the cop and father. He

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

I nodded.

still need me?” asked

thank you officer,” the father said, shaking his hand.

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

shook

we

I told him,

“How did you do

what?”