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.”

He looked up at me.

“Miki likes you too.”

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

are a lot of other people

frowned.

me?” he asked.

“I do,” I

another on Miki and tried to coordinate his double petting.

this trip

“Later,” he said.

I nodded. “We can wait a few more minutes.”

“I’m hungry.”

want

“Spaghetti,” he replied with determination.

I couldn’t help it,

I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go

He frowned, thinking.

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

“Okay,” he agreed.

of the pet’s toys and lend them to

both pets and I could

the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade

sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim didn’t stop playing and laughing.

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

was tall and kind-looking. Behind him

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

inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged

door so that

“Sit.” As I didn’t want him to bother the

I heard from the living room.

I assumed was his father and came to me. I understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so

down,” he told Miki, who complied immediately.

he gave the treat.

he told me.

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

father got back on his feed with wide eyes.

you ready to go back home?” I asked the child.

he said. “Spaghetti.”

apologetically to his father.

to the police station. I don’t mind if he eats

man looked really strangely at me.

as he went back to playing

between the cop and father. He looked at his

you on your offer and let him eat first,”

nodded.

you still need me?” asked

father said, shaking

too. I was about to be left alone with a

I said, and shook his

left and we were left

“I’m Mila,” I told him, extending

hands. “How did you

“Do what?”