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?”

pet

likes you, you

up at me.

likes you too.”

looked at the dog that was sitting right next to my

of other people who like

frowned.

“Do you like me?” he

“I do,” I replied.

another on Miki and tried to coordinate his

“We could go on this trip together if

“Later,” he said.

I nodded. “We can wait a few more

“I’m hungry.”

do you want

he replied

I couldn’t help it, I smiled.

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

frowned, thinking.

walk with Miki,

he agreed.

pet’s toys and lend them to Eloim, got

with both pets

some quick homemade

sauce underway when I heard knocks on the

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

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.

were about to go to the police station

inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him talking

stood aside next to my door so that I could close it.

I 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

heard from the living room.

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

down,” he told Miki, who complied immediately.

Then he gave the treat.

told

“No, Eloim. Miki has had too many treats already. This will be enough for today.”

behind him, his father got back

go back home?” I asked

he said. “Spaghetti.”

looked apologetically to his

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

man looked really strangely at me.

he went

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

and

I nodded.

you still need me?” asked the

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

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

said, and shook

He left and we

him, extending

shook hands. “How did you do

what?”