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

likes you, you know.”

up at

you too.”

looked at the dog that was sitting right next to

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

He frowned.

like me?” he

“I do,” I

another on Miki and

on this trip together

“Later,” he

nodded. “We can wait a few

hungry.”

you want to

replied

help it, I smiled.

“How about, you play with Lily and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then

frowned, thinking.

could walk with Miki, he adores walks.”

he

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

both pets and I could hear him laugh enthusiastically.

stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had

heard knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim

my suspicions that were confirmed as I opened the door, dog in hand so that he would not rush into the corridor and try

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

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

man rushed inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him talking softly.

to my door so that I could

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

I heard from the living

came to me. I understood what he wanted and gave him

down,” he told Miki,

the treat.

told

treats already. This

got back on his feed with wide eyes.

ready to go back home?”

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

I looked apologetically to his father.

him spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t mind if he

man looked really

went back to playing with Lily.

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

“Maybe I will take you on your offer and let

I nodded.

me?” asked the

thank you officer,” the father

his question at me too. I was about to

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

He left and we were

Mila,” I told him, extending my

“How

“Do what?”