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

likes you too.”

dog that was sitting right next to my thigh and looking at the scene joyfully.

are a lot of other people who like you

He frowned.

like me?” he asked.

do,” I replied.

one hand on Lily and another on Miki and

this trip

“Later,” he

“We can wait a few more

“I’m hungry.”

want

replied with determination.

it, I

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

frowned,

could walk with Miki, he

he agreed.

them to Eloim, got up, and went to

an instant success with both pets and I could

scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had nothing ready.

heard knocks on the

door, dog in hand so that he would not rush into the

the policeman asked me. He was

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

man rushed inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him

aside next to my door so

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

“No,” I heard from the

what he

he told Miki, who

the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

has had too many treats already. This will be enough

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

to go back home?” I

he said.

I looked apologetically to

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

man looked really

as he went back to playing with Lily.

again, looking between the cop and father. He looked at his

you on your offer and let him eat

nodded.

need me?” asked the

“No, thank you officer,” the father said, shaking

at me, aiming his question at me too. I was about to

and shook his hand in turn.

left and we were left alone.

I told him, extending my hand.

“How did

“Do what?”