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

really likes you, you know.”

He looked up at me.

“Miki likes you too.”

sitting right next to my

of other people who

He frowned.

“Do you like me?” he asked.

I replied.

one hand on Lily and another on Miki and tried to coordinate

on this trip together if you want.”

he said.

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

“I’m hungry.”

“What do you want

replied with determination.

it, I smiled.

I prepare some spaghetti, and

He frowned,

with Miki, he adores

he agreed.

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

an instant success with both pets and I could hear him laugh

some quick

on the door.

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

for a 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

here. We were about to go to the police station in a few

to

policeman stood aside next to my door so that I

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

“No,” I heard from the

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

Miki, who complied immediately.

Then he gave the treat.

he told

has had too many treats already.

his father got

“Are you ready to go back home?” I asked

he said. “Spaghetti.”

to his father.

going to the police station. I don’t mind if he

really strangely at me.

went back to

father. He looked at his son then back at me, puzzled.

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

nodded.

still need me?” asked the

the father said, shaking

aiming his question at me too. I was about to

shook

left and we were left alone.

“I’m Mila,” I told him, extending

shook hands. “How did you do

“Do what?”