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?”

I pet Lily.”

really likes you, you know.”

up at

you too.”

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

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

frowned.

me?” he

“I do,” I replied.

hand on Lily and another on Miki and tried to coordinate his double

on this trip together if you want.”

he said.

nodded. “We can wait a

hungry.”

want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied with determination.

help it, I

about, you play with Lily and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take a walk together?”

frowned, thinking.

“We could walk with Miki, he adores walks.”

“Okay,” he agreed.

toys and lend them to Eloim, got up, and

pets and I could hear him

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

heard knocks on the door. Miki

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

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

were about to go to the police station in a few minutes. He’s playing with the cat in

rushed inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him

stood aside next to my door so

As I didn’t want him to bother the men, and took a treat from one of my drawers to give it to

“No,” I heard from

extricated 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

he told Miki, who

Then he gave the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

had too many treats

Eloim pouted, and behind him, his father got back on his feed

“Are you ready to go back home?” I asked

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

to

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

The man looked really strangely at

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

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

your offer and let him eat

nodded.

“Do you still need me?” asked the policeman.

the father said,

then looked at me, aiming his question at me too. I was about to

said, and shook his hand in turn. “Thank you.”

He left and we were

Mila,” I told him,

hands. “How

what?”