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 Lily.”

you, you know.”

up

“Miki likes you too.”

next to my thigh and looking at the

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

He frowned.

me?” he asked.

“I do,” I replied.

on Miki and tried to

this trip together if you want.”

he said.

can wait a few more

hungry.”

“What do you want to eat?”

he replied with

help it, I

and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take

He frowned, thinking.

walk with Miki, he adores walks.”

he

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

He was an instant success with both pets and I could

on the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had

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

dog in hand so that he would not rush into the corridor and try to impress the

called for a lost child at Mont-Royal?” the policeman asked me. He was

go to the police station in a few minutes. He’s playing

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

from the living room.

extricated himself from whom I assumed was his father and came to me. I understood what he wanted

he told Miki, who complied

gave the treat.

“Another,” he told

many treats already.

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

to go back home?” I asked the

“No,” he said.

apologetically to his father.

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

really strangely

Eloim, as he went back

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

offer and let him

I nodded.

“Do you still need me?”

thank you officer,” the father said, shaking

question at me too. I was about to be left alone with a stranger in my home after all.

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

He left and we were left alone.

told him, extending my hand.

“How did you do that?”

what?”