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,

looked up at

likes you too.”

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

of other people who like

He frowned.

“Do you like me?”

I replied.

on Miki and tried to coordinate his double petting.

trip together if you want.”

he said.

nodded. “We can wait a few

hungry.”

you want

“Spaghetti,” he replied with

I couldn’t help it, I smiled.

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

frowned, thinking.

Miki, he adores walks.”

he agreed.

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

both pets and I could

up some

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

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

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

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

to

The policeman stood aside next to my door so that I

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

from

from whom I assumed was his father and came to me. I understood what he wanted and gave him

told Miki, who complied immediately.

the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

treats already. This

pouted, and behind him, his father got back on his feed with wide

back home?”

he said.

to his father.

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

man looked really strangely at me.

he went

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

take you on your offer and let him eat first,”

nodded.

still need me?” asked the

thank you officer,” the father said,

at me too. I was about to be left alone with a stranger

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

He left and we were left

Mila,” I told him, extending

hands. “How did you

“Do what?”