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.”

“Lily really likes you, you know.”

looked up at

you

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

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

He frowned.

like me?”

do,” I replied.

and another on Miki and tried to coordinate his double petting.

trip together if

“Later,” he said.

“We can wait a few more minutes.”

hungry.”

you want to

“Spaghetti,” he replied with determination.

it, I smiled.

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

He frowned,

with Miki, he adores walks.”

he agreed.

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

with both pets

stove and scrounge up some

pasta was nearly cooked, and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door. Miki

dog in hand so that he would not

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

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

room straight to Eloim and

to my door so that

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

from the

assumed was his father and came to me. I understood what he wanted

“Lie down,” he told Miki, who complied immediately.

gave the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

“No, Eloim. Miki has had too many treats already. This

his father got back on his feed with wide eyes.

back home?” I asked the child.

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

apologetically to his father.

He 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

looked really strangely at me.

boomed Eloim, as he went

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

and let him eat first,” he told me.

nodded.

need me?”

“No, thank you officer,” the father said, shaking his

me, aiming his question at me too. I was about to be left alone with a stranger in my home

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

He left and we were

“I’m Mila,” I told him, extending my

hands. “How did you do that?”

“Do what?”