Free Her Eyes by Jennifer Cloud, Regan Taylor

houses weren't too close together, thankfully, but he saw Mary's shadow appear in the window. A moment later, the porch light came on.
    Frank walked to the front door. Before he knocked, the door swung open, and Mary ushered him inside while looking out the door to see who or what he'd brought with him.
    "I came alone. Catherine wants Win to stay with her."
    "Don't stand at the door all night. Come in.” Her head, covered in small pink foamy curlers, bobbed up and down as she spoke.
    Frank stepped into the house. Modern on the outside, the inside was filled with antiques, family photos, and clutter from years of living in the same place. He liked it, despite the stack of newspapers that would never reach the recycling station or the overflowing green box with plastic bottles. That was how they were. They collected everything, thinking that one day it would come in handy. Problem was, even when a specific item would be helpful, they couldn't find it.
    They stopped at the living room. Jim sat in his recliner, gazing at the television, absently listening to the 11:00 news. Mary had a rocker near him, that left Frank the couch. He had to move five throw pillows before finding room to sit down, and then he realized that he'd messed up the afghan on the back of the couch. Quickly smoothing it, he sat, leaning forward to keep from disturbing anything else.
    "How is she?” Jim spoke first, hitting mute on the television before Frank responded.
    "Fine. I guess. This whole thing is getting weird."
    Mary looked at Jim then opened her mouth. Jim immediately shot her a warning look that she promptly ignored. Her eyes were wide, her interest barely restrained. Mary loved to talk anyway, but this time it seemed she had something that Jim didn't want her to say.
    "Now, I'm not one to believe in those non-Christian things. You know, supernatural stuff's more for those pagans.” Her gentle cadence reminded Frank of another time when women wore long dresses to church and used fans while sitting in their pews.
    "You're a fine Baptist, Mary.” Frank told her, even though he didn't like where this was going.
    "At the hospital, you said her heart stopped. When she woke, she acted different.” Mary paused, and Frank nodded, assuming that's what she wanted. “Has it occurred to you that ... well, have you ever heard of a walk-in?"
    "Is it like a drive-in?” Frank didn't mean to sound harsh or make light of what Mary was saying, but he couldn't follow this conversation.
    "No, smart-ass. You sound just like Jim.” She shook one old boney finger at him. “A walk-in, it's like a spirit."
    "You think my wife is a ghost?"
    "No. I think when she tried to kill herself, her soul tried to leave and another took up residence.” Her mouth shut tight, lips pressed together into a thin line. When no one spoke, she continued. “Okay, make fun if you want. How else would you explain her strange behavior, or the dog?"
    "I don't know. You explain it to me."
    "I think your Catherine changed her mind, and now there's two souls in that body. One has to go. I think Win is trying to make the old Catherine leave.” She leaned back, crossing her arms over her large chest.
    "A walk-in, Mary?” Frank asked, a distant look growing in his eyes, as if he were remembering something. “What exactly do you mean by that?"
    "As I understand it. Now, remember, I don't necessarily believe this. It's just something I heard and then did a little reading about, you know?"
    Jim sighed, and Frank nodded. That Mary had done more than heard a little something and did a little reading was clear to both.
    "Mary, if you have an idea what's going on with my wife I would sure like to know. At this point I think I'd believe anything."
    "Well, here's what I remember. I went to this lecture on reintarnation."
    "Reincarnation, Mary."
    "That's right, thank you Jim, reincarnation. So, what this person said is that before we're born we have this whole list of things we're going to do. In each