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

you, you know.”

up

you too.”

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

are a lot of other people who like

He frowned.

you like me?”

do,” I replied.

one hand on Lily and another on Miki and

go on this trip

“Later,” he said.

wait a few more minutes.”

hungry.”

do you want to

he replied with determination.

it, I

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

frowned, thinking.

Miki,

he agreed.

toys and lend them to Eloim, got up, and went

success with both pets

some quick homemade sauce as I had

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

in hand so

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

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

to Eloim

aside next to my door so that I

“Sit.” As I didn’t want him to bother the men, and took

I heard from the

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

Miki, who

he gave the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

many treats already.

him, his father got back on his feed

ready to go back home?” I asked

said. “Spaghetti.”

I looked apologetically to his father.

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

looked really strangely

boomed Eloim, as he went

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

offer and let him eat first,” he

I nodded.

“Do you still need me?” asked the policeman.

officer,” the father said, shaking his hand.

aiming his question at me too. I was about to be left

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

left and we were

him, extending my hand.

shook hands. “How did you do that?”

what?”