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?”

pet Lily.”

you, you

up at me.

likes you

right next to my thigh and looking at

there are a lot of other

He frowned.

like me?”

“I do,” I

Lily and another on Miki and tried to coordinate his double

“We could go on this trip

“Later,” he said.

“We can wait a few more

“I’m hungry.”

do you want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied with determination.

help it, I smiled.

Lily and Miki, while I prepare some spaghetti, and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take a walk together?”

frowned,

could walk with Miki,

he

of the pet’s toys and lend them to

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

and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as I had nothing

and the sauce underway when I heard knocks on the

the door, dog in hand so that he would not

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

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

rushed inside the room straight to

next to my door so that

As I didn’t want him to bother the men, and took a

from the living room.

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

he told Miki, who complied

gave the treat.

he told me.

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

got back on his

to go back home?” I asked the

“No,” he said. “Spaghetti.”

I looked apologetically to his father.

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

“Spaghetti,” boomed Eloim, as he went

between the cop and father. He looked at his son then back

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

I nodded.

need me?” asked the

father said, shaking

looked at me, aiming his question at me too. I was about to be left alone with a stranger in my home after all.

will be fine,” I said, and shook

and we

him, extending my hand.

hands. “How did

“Do what?”