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?”

I pet Lily.”

really likes you, you

looked up at me.

you too.”

dog that was sitting right next to my thigh

sure there are a lot of other people

He frowned.

like me?” he asked.

I

and another on Miki and tried to coordinate his

go on this trip together if

he

can wait a

hungry.”

do you want to eat?”

he replied with determination.

couldn’t help it, I smiled.

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

He frowned, thinking.

with Miki, he adores walks.”

“Okay,” he

toys and lend them to Eloim, got up,

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

the stove and scrounge up some quick

knocks on

my suspicions 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

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

room straight to Eloim and hugged him talking softly.

next to my door so that I could close it.

I didn’t want him to bother the men, and took a treat from

“No,” I heard from the

I understood what

told Miki, who complied

gave the treat.

“Another,” he told

treats already.

got back on his feed with wide

go back home?” I asked the

he said. “Spaghetti.”

I looked apologetically to his father.

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

looked really

“Spaghetti,” boomed Eloim, as he went back to playing with Lily.

between the cop and father. He looked at his son then back at me, puzzled.

and let him eat first,” he told me.

nodded.

me?” asked the policeman.

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

and shook his hand in turn.

we were

Mila,” I told him, extending

shook hands. “How

“Do what?”