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

likes you, you

looked up at

“Miki likes you too.”

sitting right next to my thigh and looking at the

a lot of other people

frowned.

me?” he

“I do,” I

Lily and another on Miki

this trip together if

“Later,” he

I nodded. “We can wait a few more minutes.”

“I’m hungry.”

you want to eat?”

replied with determination.

help it, I smiled.

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

frowned, thinking.

Miki, he adores walks.”

he agreed.

I nodded, grabbed some of the pet’s 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 enthusiastically.

on the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade

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

the door, dog in hand so that he would not rush into the

at Mont-Royal?” the policeman asked me. He was tall and kind-looking. Behind him was a handsome man in a blazer looking

“He’s here. We were about to go to the police station in a few

inside the room straight to Eloim

to my door so that I could close it.

bother the men, and took a treat

from the living room.

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 it to

told Miki,

gave the treat.

told

Eloim. Miki has had too many treats already. This

pouted, and behind him, his father got back on his feed with

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

he said. “Spaghetti.”

to his

hungry and I promised him spaghetti before going to the police station. I don’t mind if

really strangely at me.

as he went

between the cop and father. He looked at his

I will take you on your offer and let him eat first,” he

I nodded.

“Do you still need me?”

you officer,” the father said, shaking his

policeman then looked at me, aiming his question at me too. I was about to be left alone with a stranger in

“I will be fine,” I said, and shook his hand in turn.

and we were left alone.

Mila,” I told him, extending my hand.

We shook hands. “How did you

what?”