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,

up

you

sitting right next to my thigh and looking

are a lot of other people

frowned.

“Do you like me?”

“I do,” I replied.

another on Miki and tried

on this trip together if

“Later,” he

“We can wait a few

hungry.”

do you want to eat?”

replied with

I couldn’t help it, I smiled.

Lily and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take a walk

frowned,

could walk with Miki, he adores

he

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

both pets

scrounge up some

The pasta was nearly cooked, and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim didn’t stop playing and

the door, dog in hand so that he would

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

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

The man rushed inside the room straight to

stood aside next to my door so that I could

dog down, and told him, “Sit.” As I didn’t want him to bother the men, and took a treat from one of

from the living room.

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

down,” he told Miki,

gave the treat.

told

too many treats already. This will be enough for today.”

him, his father got back

go back home?” I asked

he said.

apologetically to his father.

to the police station. I don’t mind if

The man looked really

boomed Eloim, as he went back to playing with

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

on your offer and

I nodded.

you still need me?” asked the policeman.

officer,” the father

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

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

we were left

him, extending my hand.

We shook hands. “How did you do that?”

what?”