The Things They Left Behind is a short story included in the collection Just After Sunset published in November of 2008.Warning, the following review does contain spoilers, just in case you have not read it yet.
Scott Staley was employed with Light and Bell Insurance when the planes slammed into the World Trade Center Towers. However, on that horrific day, Scott listened to his inner voice, his "Mr. Yow, Git Down", and called in sick in order to spend the day in Central Park.
Almost a year later mysterious objects begins showing up in his apartment. Only, they aren't so mysterious. Scott recognizes the items. They belonged to the people who lost their lives in the towers. In an attempt to disprove his theory, he throws the items out. They reappear each time he does.
He confides in his neighbor, Paula. She believes that what he is saying is true, but cannot justify the events as true either. She takes one of the items to stow it away for safe keeping. That night she has a terrible nightmare, viewing the last minutes of the owner's life. Scott realizes then that his mission is to return the items to the families who lost loved ones.
This story is very powerful. I admire King for taking on such a story that involves a disaster that is still fresh in people's thoughts. His story is unique and does not trivialize any one's loss in any way. I was a little nervous about a story related to 9/11, but I should have had more faith in Stephen King to pull it off.
This story is more psychological than it is horror. There are no evil creatures going around killing people. But the edge is still there. This is probably my favorite short story Stephen King has written in quite some time.
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