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, you

looked up at

“Miki likes you too.”

looked at the dog that was sitting right next to my thigh

sure there are a lot of other people who like you too.”

He frowned.

me?” he asked.

“I do,” I replied.

another on Miki and tried to coordinate

go on this trip together if you want.”

he said.

I nodded. “We can wait

“I’m hungry.”

want

he replied with

I couldn’t help it, I smiled.

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

frowned, thinking.

could walk with Miki, he adores walks.”

“Okay,” he agreed.

toys and lend them to

success with both pets

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

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

door, dog in hand so

child at Mont-Royal?” the policeman asked me. He was tall and

here. We were about to go to the police station in

rushed inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him talking

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

to bother the men, and took a

heard from the living

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

he told Miki, who

the treat.

told me.

Eloim. Miki has had too many treats already.

got back on his feed with wide

“Are you ready to go back home?”

said.

to his father.

me he was hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to the police

The man looked really strangely at me.

went

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

on your offer and let him eat first,”

nodded.

me?” asked

you officer,” the father

policeman then looked at me, aiming his question at me too. I was about to be left alone

said, and shook

He left and we were left

him, extending my hand.

shook hands. “How did you

what?”