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?”

pet Lily.”

likes you, you

up at me.

“Miki likes you too.”

dog that was sitting right next to my

a lot of other people

He frowned.

me?”

“I do,” I replied.

put one hand on Lily and another on Miki and tried

go on this trip together if you want.”

“Later,” he said.

can wait

“I’m hungry.”

you want to

replied with determination.

it, I

and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take a

He frowned, thinking.

“We could walk with Miki, he adores

“Okay,” he

toys and lend them to Eloim, got

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

and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had

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

the door, dog in hand so

child at Mont-Royal?” the policeman asked me. He was tall and kind-looking. Behind him was

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

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

The policeman stood aside next to my door

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

from

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

down,” he told Miki,

gave the treat.

he told

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

him, his father got back on

ready to go back home?” I asked the child.

he said. “Spaghetti.”

apologetically to

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

looked really strangely at me.

went back to playing

again, looking between the cop and father. He looked at his son then back at me,

your offer and let him eat first,” he told me.

nodded.

need me?” asked the

“No, thank you officer,” the father said, shaking his hand.

his question at me too. I was about to be left alone with a stranger in my

fine,” I said, and shook his hand in

He left and we were left alone.

“I’m Mila,” I told him,

hands. “How did you do that?”

what?”