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

likes you, you know.”

He looked up at

“Miki likes you

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

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

He frowned.

like me?” he asked.

“I do,” I

Lily and another on Miki and tried to coordinate his

trip together if you want.”

“Later,” he said.

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

“I’m hungry.”

want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied

I couldn’t help it,

with Lily and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once

frowned, thinking.

Miki, he adores

he

the pet’s toys and lend them to Eloim, got up, and went

He was an instant success with both pets

some quick homemade sauce as I had nothing ready.

pasta was nearly cooked, and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim didn’t

had my suspicions that were confirmed as I opened the door, dog in hand so that he would

Mont-Royal?” the policeman asked me. He was tall and kind-looking.

were about to go to the police station in a few minutes.

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

my door so that

didn’t want him to bother the men, and took a treat from one of my drawers to give

I heard from the living room.

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

told Miki, who complied

gave the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

treats already. This will be enough

him, his father got back on his feed with wide eyes.

to go back

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

to

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

really strangely at me.

as he went back to

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

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

nodded.

need me?” asked

officer,” the father said, shaking his hand.

The policeman then looked at me, aiming his question at me too. I was about to be left alone with a stranger in my

said, and shook his hand in turn. “Thank

we were left

I told him, extending

“How did you

“Do what?”