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.”

“Lily really likes you, you know.”

looked up at me.

you

that was sitting right next to my thigh and looking at the scene

a lot of other people who like you too.”

frowned.

me?” he asked.

do,” I replied.

He put one hand on Lily and another on Miki and tried

“We could go on this trip together

he

I nodded. “We can wait a few

“I’m hungry.”

“What do you want to

“Spaghetti,” he replied

I couldn’t help it, I smiled.

with Lily and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve

He frowned, thinking.

“We could walk with Miki, he adores walks.”

“Okay,” he agreed.

and lend them to Eloim, got up, and went

pets and I could hear him

some

sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim

in hand so that he would not rush into

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

were about to go to the police station in a few minutes.

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

The policeman stood aside next to my door so that I could

“Sit.” As I didn’t want him to bother the men,

“No,” I heard from the living

I understood what he

told Miki, who complied immediately.

he gave the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

Miki has had too many treats already.

and behind him, his father got back on his

go back home?” I

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

I looked apologetically to his

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

man looked really

Eloim, as he went back to playing with Lily.

and father.

on your offer and let him eat

nodded.

still need me?”

the father said,

then looked at me, aiming his question at me too. I was about to

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

we were left alone.

Mila,” I told him, extending my hand.

We shook hands. “How

what?”