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

He looked up

you too.”

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

are a lot of other

frowned.

me?”

“I do,” I

Lily and another on Miki and tried to coordinate

this trip

“Later,” he

can wait a few more minutes.”

hungry.”

“What do you want to eat?”

“Spaghetti,” he replied

couldn’t help it, I smiled.

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

frowned,

Miki, he adores walks.”

he agreed.

the pet’s toys and lend them to Eloim, got

He was an instant success with both pets and

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

knocks on the door. Miki barked, but Eloim didn’t stop playing

were confirmed as I opened the door, dog in hand so that he

lost child at Mont-Royal?” the policeman asked me. He was tall and kind-looking.

We were about to go to the police station in a few minutes. He’s playing with the cat in the living room.”

the room straight to Eloim and hugged him talking softly.

next to my door so that I could close

the men, and took a treat from one of my drawers to give it to him.

I heard from the living room.

was his father and came to me. I understood what he wanted and gave him the treat so that he would give it

down,” he told Miki,

Then he gave the treat.

told me.

many treats already. This will be

his father got back on his

go back home?” I

he said. “Spaghetti.”

to his father.

“I’m sorry. He told me he was 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.”

really

went back

father. He looked at his son then back at me, puzzled.

and let him eat first,” he told

nodded.

still need me?”

you officer,” the father

looked at me, aiming his question at me too. I was about to be left

shook his hand in turn. “Thank you.”

left and we

“I’m Mila,” I told him,

hands. “How did

what?”