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,

up at me.

you too.”

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

sure there are a lot of other people who like

He frowned.

you like me?” he asked.

I replied.

another on Miki and tried to coordinate his double petting.

on this trip together if

he

wait a few more minutes.”

hungry.”

you want to

he replied with determination.

couldn’t help it, I

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

He frowned, thinking.

could walk with Miki, he adores walks.”

“Okay,” he agreed.

toys and lend them to Eloim, got

He was an instant success with both pets and I could hear him laugh

and scrounge up some

I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked,

hand so that he would not

He was tall and kind-looking. Behind him was a handsome

“He’s here. We were about to go to the police station

to

stood aside next to my door so that I could

dog down, and told him, “Sit.” As I didn’t want him to bother the men, and took

I heard from the

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

down,” he told Miki,

gave the treat.

“Another,” he told

had too many treats already. This will be

pouted, and behind him, his father got back on his feed with wide eyes.

you ready to go back home?” I asked

he said.

to

him spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t mind if

man looked really strangely at me.

“Spaghetti,” boomed Eloim, as he went back to playing with Lily.

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

on your offer and let him eat

I nodded.

me?” asked the

officer,” the father

was about to be left alone with a stranger in

shook his hand

left and we were

Mila,” I told him, extending my hand.

We shook hands. “How did you do that?”

“Do what?”