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 know.”

He looked up

likes you too.”

right next to my thigh and looking at the

sure there are a lot of other people who

frowned.

you like me?” he asked.

do,” I replied.

one hand on Lily and another on Miki

on this trip together

“Later,” he said.

can wait a few more

“I’m hungry.”

you want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied with

help it, I smiled.

I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take a walk together?”

He frowned,

Miki, he adores

“Okay,” he

nodded, grabbed some of the pet’s toys and lend them to

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

on the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I

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

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

Miss. You called for a lost child at Mont-Royal?” the policeman asked me. He was tall and kind-looking. Behind him was a handsome man in a blazer looking anxious.

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

inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him

next to my door so that

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.

heard from the living room.

Eloim extricated 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 give it to Miki.

told Miki, who complied immediately.

the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

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

got back on his feed

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

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

looked apologetically to

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

really strangely

he went

“I’m sorry,” I said again, looking between the cop and father. He looked at

you on your offer and let him

nodded.

need me?”

father said, shaking

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

said, and shook his hand in turn. “Thank

and we were

told him, extending my

hands. “How did you do

what?”