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

likes you, you

He looked up at

“Miki likes you too.”

looked at the dog that was sitting right next to my thigh and looking at the scene joyfully.

a lot of other people who like you

He frowned.

“Do you like me?” he asked.

do,” I replied.

Lily and another on Miki and tried to coordinate his double petting.

trip together

he said.

can wait a few more minutes.”

“I’m hungry.”

“What do you want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied

help it, I

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

He frowned, thinking.

with Miki, he

“Okay,” he agreed.

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

an instant success with both pets and I could

some quick homemade sauce as I had

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

I opened the door, dog in hand so that he would not rush into the corridor and

me. He was tall and kind-looking. Behind him was a handsome man in a blazer looking anxious.

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

room straight to Eloim and hugged him talking softly.

next to my door so that I

bother the men, and took a treat from one of my drawers

heard from the

Eloim extricated himself from whom I assumed was his father and came to me. I understood what he

he told Miki,

Then he gave the treat.

“Another,” he told me.

“No, Eloim. Miki has had too many treats already. This will be

him, his father got

back home?” I

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

to his father.

“I’m sorry. He told me he was hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t mind if he

really strangely at

Eloim, as he went back to playing with

looking between the cop and father. He looked

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

I nodded.

need me?” asked the policeman.

the father said, shaking his hand.

too. I was about to be left alone

will be fine,” I said, and shook his hand

left and we were left

Mila,” I told him, extending my hand.

hands. “How did you do

what?”