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.”

“Lily really likes you, you

looked up at me.

“Miki likes you too.”

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

of other people who like

He frowned.

“Do you like me?” he

do,” I

another on Miki and tried to coordinate his

could go on this trip together if

“Later,” he said.

can wait a few more minutes.”

“I’m hungry.”

want to eat?”

he replied

it, I

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

He frowned, thinking.

Miki, he adores walks.”

he

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

success with both pets and

scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had nothing

heard knocks on the door. Miki barked,

I opened the door, dog in hand so that he

He was tall and kind-looking. Behind him was

to go to the police station in a few minutes. He’s playing

to Eloim and

aside next to my door so that I could

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

from the living room.

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 give it

he told Miki, who

the treat.

he told me.

many treats already. This will be enough for today.”

him, his father got

“Are you ready to go back home?”

said. “Spaghetti.”

apologetically to his

hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t mind

really strangely

Eloim, as he went

looking between the cop and father. He looked at his son

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

nodded.

you still need me?”

thank you officer,” the father said, shaking his hand.

his question at me too. I was about to be left alone with a

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

we were left alone.

“I’m Mila,” I told him, extending my hand.

shook hands. “How did you do that?”

what?”