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, you

He looked up

you too.”

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

a lot of other

frowned.

you like me?” he

do,” I replied.

put one hand on Lily and another on Miki and

on this trip together if

he

nodded. “We can wait a few more

hungry.”

want

“Spaghetti,” he replied with determination.

it,

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

He frowned, thinking.

Miki, he adores walks.”

“Okay,” he agreed.

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

both pets and I could hear

on the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade

on the door. Miki barked, but

hand so that he would not rush into

me. He was tall and kind-looking. Behind him was a handsome man in a blazer

here. We were about to go to the police station in a few minutes. He’s

man rushed inside the room straight to

my door so

down, and told him, “Sit.” As I didn’t want him to bother the men, and took a

“No,” I heard from the living

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

Miki, who complied immediately.

gave the treat.

he told me.

Miki has had too many treats

behind him, his father got

back home?” I

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

looked apologetically to

spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t mind

The man looked really strangely at

boomed Eloim, as he went back to

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

on your offer and let him eat first,”

I nodded.

me?” asked

the father said, shaking his

me too. I was about to be left alone with

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

and we

“I’m Mila,” I told him, extending

shook hands. “How did you do

“Do what?”