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.”

“Lily really likes you, you

up at me.

you

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

there are a lot of other people who like you

He frowned.

“Do you like me?” he asked.

I replied.

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

on this trip together if you want.”

he said.

can wait a few more minutes.”

“I’m hungry.”

do you want to

replied

it, I smiled.

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

frowned,

walk with Miki,

he agreed.

the pet’s toys and lend them to Eloim,

He was an instant success with both pets and I could hear him

stove and scrounge up some quick

knocks on the door. Miki

the door, dog in hand so that he would not rush into the corridor and try to

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

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

straight to Eloim and hugged him

stood aside next to my door so that I could

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

from the living

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

he told Miki,

gave the treat.

he told

many treats already. This will be enough for

father got back on his

you ready to go back home?”

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

to his father.

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

man looked really strangely at

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

looking between the cop and father. He looked at his son

will take you on your offer and let him eat

nodded.

need me?” asked

officer,” the father said, shaking his hand.

aiming his question at me too. I was

said, and shook his hand in turn. “Thank

left and we were left alone.

him, extending my

We shook hands. “How did you

what?”