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 really likes you, you know.”

up at me.

“Miki likes you

at the dog that was sitting right next to

“I’m sure there are a lot of

He frowned.

“Do you like me?”

I

one hand on Lily and another on Miki and tried to

on this trip

“Later,” he said.

can wait a few more

hungry.”

“What do you want to eat?”

he replied

I couldn’t help it, I smiled.

spaghetti, and then once you’ve

He frowned, thinking.

with Miki,

he agreed.

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

instant success with both pets

on the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce

I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked,

opened the door, dog in hand so that he would not rush into the corridor and try

He was tall and kind-looking. Behind him was a handsome man in a blazer looking anxious.

I said moving aside. “He’s here. We were about to go to the police station

The man rushed inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him

my door so

want him to bother the men, and took a treat from one of my drawers to give it to

I heard from the living

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

Miki, who complied

he gave the treat.

told me.

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

behind him, his father got back on his feed with

back home?” I asked the child.

said.

I looked apologetically to his father.

to the police station. I

The man looked really strangely at me.

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

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

your offer and let him eat first,” he told

I nodded.

me?” asked the

officer,” the father said, shaking his hand.

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

will be fine,” I said, and shook his hand in

left and we were left alone.

I told him, extending

“How did you do that?”

what?”