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

up at me.

likes you too.”

the dog that was sitting right next to my

are a lot of other people

He frowned.

“Do you like me?”

do,” I

on Lily and another on Miki and tried to coordinate

“We could go on this trip together if you

“Later,” he

wait a

“I’m hungry.”

do you want to eat?”

replied with determination.

help it, I smiled.

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

He frowned, thinking.

walk with Miki, he adores walks.”

he agreed.

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

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

the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I

was nearly cooked, and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim didn’t stop playing

door, dog in hand so that he would

me. He was tall and

about to go to the police station

to Eloim and hugged him talking

The policeman stood aside next to my door so that I

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

heard from the living room.

assumed was his father and came to me. I understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so

down,” he told Miki,

Then he gave the treat.

he told me.

Eloim. Miki has had too many treats already. This will be enough for

Eloim pouted, and behind him, his father got back on his feed with wide eyes.

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

he said. “Spaghetti.”

looked apologetically to his

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

man looked really strangely at

as he went back to playing with

father. He looked at his

and

I nodded.

“Do you still need me?”

the father said,

me too. I was about to be left alone with a stranger in my home after all.

fine,” I said, and shook

we were

him, extending my

hands. “How did you

“Do what?”