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

He looked up

likes you too.”

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

lot of other people who like

frowned.

me?” he asked.

I

one hand on Lily and another on Miki and tried

go on this trip

“Later,” he said.

can wait a few more minutes.”

“I’m hungry.”

you want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied with

I couldn’t help it,

I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take a walk together?”

frowned, thinking.

with Miki,

“Okay,” he agreed.

lend them to Eloim, got up, and

an instant success with both pets and I could hear him

and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had nothing ready.

knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim didn’t stop playing and

I opened the door, dog in hand so that he would not rush into the corridor and try to impress the cop.

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

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

room straight to Eloim and

next to my door so that I

bother the men, and took a treat from one of my drawers to

from

to me. I understood what he

down,” he told Miki, who complied immediately.

he gave the

told

many treats already. This will be enough

and behind him, his father got back on his

you ready to go back home?”

he said. “Spaghetti.”

apologetically to his father.

spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t mind if he eats it first,” I said.

The man looked really strangely at

boomed Eloim, as he went back to

looking between the cop and father. He looked at

“Maybe I will take you on your offer and let him

nodded.

you still need me?”

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

was about to be left

fine,” I said, and shook

and we were left alone.

Mila,” I told him, extending

“How

“Do what?”