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.”

looked up

“Miki likes you too.”

was sitting right next to my thigh

there are a lot of other people

frowned.

me?” he asked.

I replied.

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

on this trip

“Later,” he said.

wait a

“I’m hungry.”

you want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied with

couldn’t help it, I smiled.

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

frowned,

walk with Miki, he adores

he agreed.

lend them to Eloim, got up, and

success with both pets and I could hear him laugh enthusiastically.

water on the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as

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

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

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

I said moving aside. “He’s here. We were about to go to the police station in a few

rushed inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him talking softly.

to my door so

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

from

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

“Lie down,” he told Miki, who complied immediately.

gave the treat.

told me.

Eloim. Miki has had too many treats already. This will

pouted, and behind him, his father got

back home?” I asked the child.

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

to his father.

and I promised him spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t mind if he eats it first,” I said. “Or

The man looked really strangely at

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

the cop and father. He looked

“Maybe I will take you on your offer and let him eat first,” he told

nodded.

“Do you still need me?” asked

“No, thank you officer,” the father said, shaking his hand.

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

and shook his hand

He left and we were

I told him, extending

We shook hands. “How did you do

“Do what?”