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 Lily.”

really likes you,

up at me.

“Miki likes you

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

“I’m sure there are a lot of other people who like you too.”

He frowned.

like me?” he asked.

“I do,” I replied.

on Miki and tried

could go on this trip together if you want.”

he said.

nodded. “We can wait a few more

“I’m hungry.”

you want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied

it, I smiled.

and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and

frowned, thinking.

with Miki, he adores

he agreed.

toys and lend them to Eloim, got up, and

He was an instant success with both pets and I could hear him

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

pasta was nearly cooked, and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked,

so that he would not rush into the corridor and try to impress

Mont-Royal?” the policeman asked me. He was tall and kind-looking.

go to the police station in a few minutes. He’s playing with the cat in the living room.”

rushed inside the room straight to Eloim

next to my door

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

heard from the

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

he told Miki, who complied immediately.

he gave the treat.

he told me.

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

got back on his

go back home?” I asked

said. “Spaghetti.”

I looked apologetically to his father.

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

looked really

boomed Eloim, as he went back to playing with

“I’m sorry,” I said again, looking between the cop and father. He looked at his son then back at me, puzzled.

your offer and let him eat first,” he

nodded.

me?”

father said, shaking his

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

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

left and we were left alone.

him, extending my hand.

We shook hands. “How did you

“Do what?”