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 at me.

likes you

was sitting right next to my thigh and looking

a lot of other people who

frowned.

like me?” he asked.

do,” I

on Miki and tried to

this trip

he said.

I nodded. “We can wait a few more

“I’m hungry.”

“What do you want to eat?”

replied with determination.

couldn’t help it, I

play with Lily and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take a walk together?”

frowned, thinking.

could walk with Miki, he

“Okay,” he agreed.

some of the pet’s toys and lend them

pets and

the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had nothing

knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim didn’t stop playing and

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

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

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

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

The policeman stood aside next to my door so

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

heard from the living

to me. I understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so that he would

down,” he told Miki, who complied immediately.

Then he gave the treat.

told me.

too many treats already.

father got back on his feed with

to go back home?” I asked the child.

said. “Spaghetti.”

looked apologetically to his father.

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

The man looked really strangely at

went

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

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

nodded.

you still need me?” asked

officer,” the father

I was about to be left alone with a stranger in my home after all.

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

left and we were

“I’m Mila,” I told him,

hands. “How did you do that?”

what?”