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 know.”

up at

“Miki likes you

was sitting right next to my thigh and looking at the scene

there are a lot of other people who like you

He frowned.

me?” he asked.

I

hand on Lily and another on

go on this trip

“Later,” he said.

nodded. “We can wait

“I’m hungry.”

“What do you want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied with determination.

I couldn’t help it, I smiled.

“How about, you play with Lily and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve

He frowned,

could walk with Miki, he adores walks.”

he agreed.

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

pets and I could hear him laugh enthusiastically.

and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had nothing

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

my suspicions that were confirmed as I opened the door, dog in hand so that he would not rush into

Miss. You called for a lost child at Mont-Royal?” the policeman asked me. He was tall

to the police station in

the room straight to Eloim and hugged

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

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 my drawers to give it to him.

from

understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so that he would give

he told Miki, who complied

he gave the treat.

told me.

many treats already. This will be

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

back

said. “Spaghetti.”

looked apologetically to his

before going to the police station. I don’t mind if he eats

The man looked really strangely

he went back to playing

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

offer and

nodded.

me?” asked the policeman.

thank you officer,” the father said, shaking his

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

said, and shook his hand in turn. “Thank you.”

and we were left alone.

“I’m Mila,” I told him, extending my hand.

hands. “How did you do

what?”