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

you, you know.”

He looked up at me.

“Miki likes you too.”

next to my thigh and looking

of other people who like you too.”

He frowned.

like me?” he asked.

I

on Miki and tried to coordinate his

this trip together if you

he said.

nodded. “We can wait a

“I’m hungry.”

“What do you want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied with determination.

it, I smiled.

spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take a walk together?”

He frowned, thinking.

could walk with Miki, he adores walks.”

“Okay,” he agreed.

I nodded, grabbed some of the pet’s toys and lend them to Eloim,

with both pets and I could

and scrounge up some quick homemade

knocks on the

I had my suspicions that were confirmed as I opened the door, dog in hand so that he would not rush

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.

about to go to the police station in

the room straight to Eloim and hugged

next to my door so that

to bother the men, and took a treat from one of my drawers to give it to

heard from the living room.

father and came to me. I understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so that he would

told Miki, who

Then he gave the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

treats already. This will be enough

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

ready to go back home?” I

he said. “Spaghetti.”

apologetically to

going to the police station. I don’t mind if he

man looked really

“Spaghetti,” boomed Eloim, as he went back to playing with Lily.

“I’m sorry,” I said again, looking between the cop and father. He looked

will take you on your offer and let

I nodded.

you still need me?” asked

you officer,” the father

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

be fine,” I said, and shook his hand

we

Mila,” I told him, extending my hand.

We shook hands. “How did you do

“Do what?”