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

really likes you, you know.”

looked up

you

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

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

He frowned.

like me?” he asked.

“I do,” I replied.

on

“We could go on this trip together if you want.”

he

wait a few

hungry.”

“What do you want to eat?”

he replied with

it, I smiled.

some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take a walk

frowned, thinking.

Miki, he adores walks.”

he agreed.

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

success with both pets and I could hear him laugh

put water on the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had nothing

nearly cooked, and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on

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

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

to the police station in a few minutes. He’s playing with the cat in the living room.”

straight to Eloim and hugged him

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

down, and told him, “Sit.” As I didn’t want him to bother the men, and took a treat from one of my drawers to give it

I heard from

himself from whom I assumed was his father and 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, who complied

the treat.

“Another,” he told

treats already. This will be enough

his father got back on his feed with wide

back home?” I asked the

he said. “Spaghetti.”

I looked apologetically to his father.

going to the police

looked really

“Spaghetti,” boomed Eloim, as he went back to

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

your offer and let him eat first,” he told me.

nodded.

need me?” asked the

officer,” the father said, shaking his hand.

me, aiming his question at me too. I was about

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

and we were left alone.

I told him, extending

“How did

what?”