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 Lily.”

really likes you, you

looked up at

“Miki likes you too.”

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

are a lot of other people who like you too.”

He frowned.

you like me?” he

I replied.

on Miki

could go on this trip together if you

“Later,” he said.

“We can wait a few more minutes.”

hungry.”

you want to eat?”

he replied

help it, I smiled.

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

He frowned, thinking.

could walk with Miki, he

he

them to Eloim, got up,

with both pets and I could hear him

some quick homemade sauce as I

when I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim didn’t

dog in hand so that

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

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

inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him talking softly.

next to my door so that I could close it.

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.

I heard from the living room.

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

he told Miki, who complied immediately.

Then he gave the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

had too many treats already. This will be

got

back home?” I asked the

said.

I looked apologetically to his father.

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

really strangely

Eloim, as he went back to playing with Lily.

father. He looked at his son

on your offer and let him eat first,” he told

nodded.

need me?” asked the policeman.

father

at me, aiming his question at me too. I was about to be left alone with a

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

left and we were left alone.

“I’m Mila,” I told him,

shook hands. “How did you do

what?”