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.”

“Lily really likes you, you know.”

He looked up at me.

likes you

next to my

lot of other

frowned.

you like me?” he asked.

“I do,” I

Lily and another on Miki and tried to

“We could go on this trip

he said.

wait a few

hungry.”

want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied

it, I smiled.

prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go

He frowned,

with Miki, he adores walks.”

he agreed.

and lend them to Eloim, got up, and went to

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

water on the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce

I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim didn’t stop playing and laughing.

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

was tall and kind-looking.

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

The man rushed inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him talking

stood aside next to my door so that I could close

As I didn’t want him to bother the men, and took a treat from

I heard from the living room.

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

down,” he told Miki, who

gave the treat.

“Another,” he told

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

behind him, his father got back on his

“Are you ready to go back

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

looked apologetically to his father.

going to the police station. I don’t mind if he eats it first,”

looked really strangely at me.

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

between the cop and father. He looked at

and let him eat first,”

nodded.

“Do you still need me?” asked the

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

policeman then looked at me, aiming his question at me too. I was about

shook his hand in turn. “Thank you.”

and we were left alone.

“I’m Mila,” I told him, extending my

shook hands. “How did you do that?”

what?”