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.”

you, you know.”

He looked up at me.

“Miki likes you too.”

next to my thigh and looking at the

sure there are a lot of other people

He frowned.

you like me?” he asked.

I

one hand on Lily and another on Miki and tried

go on this trip together if you want.”

he

can wait a few more

hungry.”

want

replied with

help it, I

I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take a

frowned, thinking.

could walk with Miki, he adores walks.”

he

some of the pet’s toys and lend them to Eloim, got

both pets

the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce

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

that were confirmed as I opened the door, dog in hand so that he would not

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

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

The man rushed inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged

stood aside next to my door so that I could close it.

to bother the men, and took a treat from

heard from the living room.

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

down,” he told Miki, who complied immediately.

Then he gave the

told me.

has had too many treats

father got back

to go back home?”

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

apologetically to his father.

was hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to the police station. I

man looked really strangely at

went back to playing with Lily.

father.

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

I nodded.

need me?” asked

officer,” the father said, shaking his

aiming his question at me too. I was

be fine,” I said, and shook his

left and we were

him, extending

“How did you do

what?”