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

likes you, you know.”

looked up at me.

likes you too.”

sitting right next to my thigh

lot of other people who like

He frowned.

like me?” he asked.

do,” I

put one hand on Lily and another on Miki and tried to coordinate his double

trip together if you want.”

“Later,” he said.

I nodded. “We can wait

hungry.”

do you want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied with

help it, I smiled.

about, you play with Lily and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go

frowned,

walk with Miki,

he agreed.

some of the pet’s toys and lend them to Eloim, got up, and went to

an instant success with both pets and I could

stove and scrounge up some quick homemade

and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door.

confirmed as I opened the door, dog in hand so that he

the policeman asked me. He was tall and kind-looking. Behind him was a handsome man in a blazer looking

about to go to the police station in a few minutes. He’s playing with the cat

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

next to my door so that I could

him to bother the men, and took a treat from one of my drawers to

“No,” I heard from the living

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

told Miki, who complied immediately.

he gave the treat.

“Another,” he told

many treats already. This will

his father got back on his feed with wide eyes.

ready to go back home?” I asked the

he said.

apologetically to his father.

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

looked really strangely at me.

boomed Eloim, as he went

and father. He looked at his son then back at me, puzzled.

I will take you on your offer and

nodded.

me?” asked the policeman.

you officer,” the father said, shaking his hand.

question at me too. I was about to be left alone

said, and shook his hand in turn. “Thank

He left and we were

Mila,” I told him,

“How did you do

“Do what?”