Culture
The Secret Life of Stuff We Lose on Subways
A tale of underground lost and found.
In some ways, subway cars quickly shed any trace of the riders who jostled for space in their cramped quarters. Once passengers file out, the slate is clean, for a moment, before more crowd in. But sometimes—often, actually—we leave things behind.
Maybe you’d been swept up in something you were reading; maybe you’d dozed off. As the train pulls into your station, you’re scrambling to collect your stuff. Groceries, messenger bag, magazine—do you have your phone? Wait, didn’t you have a scarf? The doors slide shut behind you before you can go back to grab it.