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

you, you know.”

He looked up

“Miki likes you too.”

dog that was sitting right next to my

sure there are a lot of other

frowned.

like me?” he

I

on Lily and another on Miki and tried to coordinate his

this trip together if

he said.

nodded. “We can wait a few more

“I’m hungry.”

“What do you want to eat?”

he replied

it, I smiled.

and then

frowned, thinking.

walk with Miki,

he agreed.

toys and lend them to Eloim, got up, and went to the kitchen.

was an instant success with both pets and

I put water on the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade

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

door, dog in hand so that he would not rush into the corridor and try to impress the

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

We were about to go to the police

The man rushed inside the room straight to Eloim and

to my door so that I could close

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

heard from the living

from whom I assumed was his father and came to me. I understood what he wanted and

“Lie down,” he told Miki, who

he gave the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

had too many treats already. This

and behind him, his father got back on

you ready to go back home?” I

said. “Spaghetti.”

apologetically to

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

The man looked really strangely

Eloim, as he went back to playing with

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

take you on your offer and let him eat first,” he

I nodded.

“Do you still need me?” asked the policeman.

officer,” the father said, shaking

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

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

He left and we were

told him,

shook hands. “How did you do that?”

what?”