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.”

you,

He looked up at me.

you too.”

looked at the dog that was sitting right next to my

sure there are a lot of other people

frowned.

“Do you like me?” he

I replied.

hand on Lily and another on Miki

on this trip together if you want.”

he

nodded. “We can wait a few more minutes.”

hungry.”

“What do you want to

replied

help it, I smiled.

Lily and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and

frowned, thinking.

Miki, he adores walks.”

“Okay,” he

and lend them to Eloim, got up, and went to

both pets and I could hear him laugh enthusiastically.

and scrounge up some quick homemade

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

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

the policeman asked me. He was tall

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

the room straight to Eloim and hugged

policeman stood aside next to my door so that I

to bother the

heard from

came to me. I understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so that he would give it to Miki.

down,” he told Miki,

Then he gave the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

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

his father got back on

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

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

looked apologetically to

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

man looked really strangely

Eloim, as he went back to playing with Lily.

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

your offer and

I nodded.

you still need me?” asked the policeman.

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

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

I said, and shook

left and we were left

him, extending my hand.

“How

what?”