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

you, you

looked up at

you too.”

next to my thigh and looking at the scene

a lot of other people who

frowned.

you like me?” he

“I do,” I

put one hand on Lily and another on Miki and tried to coordinate his double

could go on this trip together if you want.”

he said.

“We can wait a few more minutes.”

“I’m hungry.”

do you want to eat?”

replied with determination.

help it, I smiled.

and then once you’ve eaten we can go and take a walk together?”

He frowned, thinking.

could walk with Miki, he adores walks.”

he agreed.

lend them to Eloim,

was an instant success with both pets and I could

water on the stove and scrounge up some quick homemade sauce as

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

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

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

were about to go to the police

inside the room straight to Eloim and hugged him

door

want him to bother the men, and took a treat from

I heard from the

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

down,” he told Miki, who complied immediately.

the treat.

told me.

Miki has had too many treats already.

him, his father got back on his feed with wide

back home?” I asked the

said. “Spaghetti.”

I looked apologetically to his father.

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.

The man looked really strangely at

boomed Eloim, as he went back to

father. He looked at his son then back

“Maybe I will take you on your offer and let him eat first,” he told me.

nodded.

me?” asked the

the father said, shaking his hand.

at me too. I was about to be left alone

and shook his hand

left and we were left

told him, extending my hand.

shook hands. “How did you do that?”

“Do what?”