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?”

pet Lily.”

likes you, you know.”

looked up

likes you

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

are a lot of other people

frowned.

you like me?”

do,” I replied.

and another on Miki and tried

could go on this trip together if you

“Later,” he

“We can wait a few more

“I’m hungry.”

want to eat?”

he replied

couldn’t help it, I

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

frowned,

walk with Miki, he adores

“Okay,” he agreed.

nodded, grabbed some of the pet’s toys and lend them to Eloim, got up, and went

success with both pets

I put water on the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade

the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked,

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

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 anxious.

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

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

stood aside next to my door

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

from the

I understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so that he would give it to

down,” he told Miki,

the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

too many treats already. This will

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

ready to go back home?”

he said. “Spaghetti.”

apologetically to

to the police station. I don’t mind if

really strangely at me.

Eloim, as he went back to playing with Lily.

“I’m sorry,” I said again, looking between the cop and father. He

on your offer and let him eat first,” he told me.

I nodded.

need me?” asked

officer,” the father

aiming his question at me too. I was about to be left alone with a stranger in my home

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

left and we were left alone.

“I’m Mila,” I told him, extending my hand.

“How did

what?”