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.”

you, you know.”

looked up at

likes you

next to my thigh and looking at the scene joyfully.

sure there are a lot of other people who like you

frowned.

like me?” he asked.

I replied.

another on Miki and tried to coordinate

this trip together if you want.”

he said.

“We can wait a few more minutes.”

“I’m hungry.”

you want to eat?”

he replied with determination.

I couldn’t help it, I smiled.

play with Lily and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once

He frowned, thinking.

with Miki, he adores

“Okay,” he agreed.

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

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

on the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had

knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim

in hand so

lost child at Mont-Royal?” the policeman asked me. He was

“Yes, gentlemen,” I said moving aside. “He’s here. We were about to go to the police station in a few minutes. He’s playing with the

to

door so that I

dog down, and told him, “Sit.” As I didn’t want him to bother the men, and took a treat from one of my drawers

from the

Eloim 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

he told Miki, who complied immediately.

he gave the treat.

he told me.

has had too many treats already. This will

Eloim pouted, and behind him, his father got back on

you ready to go back home?” I asked the child.

he said. “Spaghetti.”

I looked apologetically to his father.

hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t mind if he eats it first,” I said. “Or not.”

The man looked really strangely at me.

as he went back to playing

and father.

take you on your offer and let him

nodded.

“Do you still need me?” asked

the father

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

shook his hand in turn. “Thank you.”

He left and we were

“I’m Mila,” I told him, extending my

We shook hands. “How did you do

“Do what?”