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.”

looked up at me.

you too.”

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

of other people who like you

frowned.

like me?” he asked.

“I do,” I replied.

on Lily and another on Miki

could go on this trip together

“Later,” he said.

wait a few more

“I’m hungry.”

you want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied

couldn’t help it, I

about, you play with Lily and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go and

frowned, thinking.

Miki, he adores

“Okay,” he agreed.

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

He was an instant success with both pets and I

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

on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim didn’t stop playing and laughing.

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

You called for a lost child at Mont-Royal?” the policeman asked me. He was tall and kind-looking. Behind him was a handsome man in a blazer looking anxious.

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

straight to

The policeman stood aside next to my door so

put my dog down, and told him, “Sit.” As I didn’t want him to bother the men, and took a treat from one of my drawers to give it to him.

heard from the living room.

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

down,” he told Miki, who complied immediately.

he gave the

he told me.

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

father got back on his feed with wide

you ready to go back home?” I asked

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

I looked apologetically to his father.

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

man looked really strangely at me.

he went

father.

take you on your offer and let

nodded.

still need me?” asked the

the father said, shaking his hand.

question at me too. I was about to be left alone with a stranger in my home after all.

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

and we were left alone.

“I’m Mila,” I told him, extending

“How did you do that?”

what?”