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?”

“No, I pet Lily.”

really likes you, you know.”

He looked up at

you

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

sure there are a lot of other people

He frowned.

me?” he

“I do,” I replied.

put one hand on Lily and another on Miki and tried to coordinate

on this trip together if you

“Later,” he

nodded. “We can wait a few more

“I’m hungry.”

do you want

replied with determination.

help it, I

spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take

frowned, thinking.

“We could walk with Miki, he adores walks.”

“Okay,” he agreed.

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

with both pets and I could

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

the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked,

were confirmed as I opened the door, dog in hand so that he would

at Mont-Royal?” the policeman asked me. He was tall and kind-looking. Behind him was a handsome man

police station in a few minutes. He’s

to Eloim and

aside next to my door so that I could close it.

I didn’t want him to bother the men, and took a treat from one of my drawers to

I heard from

me. I understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so

down,” he told Miki, who complied immediately.

he gave the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

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

his father got

to go back

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

apologetically to

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

The man looked really strangely

as he went back

between the cop and father. He looked at his son then back at

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

I nodded.

still need me?”

the father said, shaking his hand.

looked at me, aiming his question at me too. I was about to

I said, and shook his hand in turn. “Thank

left and we were left alone.

Mila,” I told him, extending my

“How did

“Do what?”