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?”

“No, I pet Lily.”

really likes you, you

He looked up at me.

you too.”

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

a lot of other people who like

He frowned.

“Do you like me?” he asked.

do,” I replied.

and another on Miki and tried to coordinate his double

this trip together if you want.”

“Later,” he said.

wait a few more minutes.”

“I’m hungry.”

“What do you want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied with

it, I smiled.

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

He frowned,

with Miki, he adores walks.”

he

toys and lend them to Eloim, got up, and went to the kitchen.

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

stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had nothing ready.

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

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

“Hello, Miss. You called for a lost child at Mont-Royal?” the policeman asked me. He was tall and kind-looking. Behind him was a handsome man in

gentlemen,” I said moving aside. “He’s here. We were about to go to the police

to Eloim and hugged him talking softly.

The policeman stood aside next to my door so that

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

heard from the living

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

“Lie down,” he told Miki, who

gave the

he told me.

treats already. This will

his father got back on his feed with

go back home?” I asked

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

looked apologetically to his father.

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

The man looked really strangely at

went back to

cop and father. He looked

“Maybe I will take you on your offer and let him

I nodded.

still need me?” asked the policeman.

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

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

and shook his hand in turn. “Thank you.”

He left and we

told him,

“How did you

“Do what?”