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?”

“No, I pet

likes you, you know.”

up

likes you

next

of other

He frowned.

“Do you like me?” he asked.

do,” I replied.

and another on Miki and tried to coordinate his

on this trip together

he said.

“We can wait a few

hungry.”

want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied

couldn’t help it, I

and then once you’ve eaten we can go and

frowned, thinking.

could walk with Miki, he adores

he

them to Eloim, got up, and went to the kitchen.

was an instant success with both pets and

and scrounge up some

underway when I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim

suspicions that were confirmed as I opened the door, dog in hand so that he would not rush into the corridor and try to impress

asked me. He was tall and kind-looking. Behind him

gentlemen,” I said moving aside. “He’s here. We were about to go to the police station in a few minutes. He’s playing with the cat

to Eloim and hugged him talking softly.

next to my door so that I

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

heard from the living

whom I assumed was his father and came to me. I understood what

“Lie down,” he told Miki, who complied

gave the treat.

told

has had too many treats already. This will

him, his father got

you ready to go back home?” I

he said. “Spaghetti.”

to his

to the police station. I don’t mind if

really strangely at

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

said again, looking between the cop and father. He

will take you on your offer and let him eat first,” he told me.

I nodded.

still need me?” asked

father said, shaking his hand.

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

“I will be fine,” I said, and shook his hand in turn.

and we were

told him, extending my hand.

shook hands. “How did you do

“Do what?”