It has darker elements, but not as dark as a lot of my other stories.

Evan and Kelly Norris were a dream to most people. Both were successful, attractive, wealthy in their own right, and devoted to each other. People who were close to them knew that the devoted part wasn't just a public image either, both actually did have a relationship that was the envy of everyone around them. It wasn't just their good relationship, though, that made people envy, both were very attractive, Evan being tall and handsome with short brown hair and a milky complexion and Kelly medium height with a curvy figure, tan skin and raven hair. While not famous, they were well known in their city and often interacted with the more influential members of society.

Take tonight. Both of them were to be at a benefit to help the homeless. It was a higher-class affair, and Evan and Kelly both hated the idea of doing it. To them, it seemed a waste of money that could actually go to, well, helping the homeless, but people with money often wouldn't do the right thing unless they could make an event out of it, and Kelly and Evan were obliged to go.

Both were driving separately, each from their respective jobs, him as a rather young executive and her as a very successful stockbroker. They were talking on their phones (though hands-free) while they were driving to the event.

"This is so stupid." Kelly moaned. "Why can't we just give someone the money and not be seen?"

"We were a guest and we have to play the part. I know, its stupid. I'd rather have just cut a check. You..."

Evan heard a screech and something slam against something else over his speakers. He held his breath.

"Kelly?"

Nothing.

"Kelly?"

He called 911 and gave them her rough location. They told him they'd send someone. He was worried, but not in a panic. She could just have been rattled by it. No reason to panic. Still, he'd just cut and check and leave the event. He was just a few minutes away from it and he could be gone with only staying a moment.

He went to the valet and had them park his car, then he immediately went inside. The place where they were having it, a former mansion turned exclusive event space, was very nice, but he cared nothing about it. He walked over to the person leading the event, a tall, prim woman who saw the look on his face.

"Evan, you look like you've seen a ghost."

"I can't stay. My wife, I think she's been in a car accident. Here's my check, I have to go."

"It's really not proper for you to leave so soon..."

He just looked at her.

"Proper be damned. Here's the check, make sure it actually goes to someone in need. Bye."

Five minutes later, he was back on the road, but once he was on the road, he realized he didn't actually know what to do. He tried his wife again, nothing. He tried texting her, nothing. He was thinking of going to get a coffee somewhere when he got a call. He immediately took it.

"Mr. Norris?" A sympathetic woman's voice asked.

"Speaking." He said.

"This is Nurse Hill from South Mount Hospital. We're calling because your wife was in a car accident."

"Is she okay? What's going on?"

"I'm in her file, yes, it appears she's in surgery. It, oddly, does not say what type. I, oh, an update, so, the surgery is going to take a few hours, but he expectation is for a full recovery."

"Can I see her?"

"No, not until after. They're recommending you wait at least twelve hours before coming in. So, about seven tomorrow morning."

"I'll be there."

Evan, understandably, slept very poorly last night. He was too worried. Was she really okay? Why would it take so long if they expect a full recovery. How bad was it? What happened? All these thoughts bounced around in his mind until he managed to fall asleep. It was a fitful few hours, hardly restful, but at 5:30 a.m. he was up and getting ready. He knew what they said, but he wanted to be there earlier than that. He was hoping they were mistaken on how long it would take.

He was soon at the hospital and when he walked inside, he immediately went to the reception desk and said he was there to see Kelly Norris. The receptionist smiled and looked the information up. She then stopped.

"You are Evan Norris, correct?" She asked.

"Yes, her husband." His hair went up on the back of his neck. "Why?"

"Just asking. We do need you to sign in here... and, oh, that was strange."

"What?"

"I'm not sure, might be an issue with our system, but anyway, it shows Kelly Norris is in room 1207. The elevator is up that way."

"Thank you." He said, still worried. What was all that? No, you're being paranoid, glitches or errors happen. It could be nothing, but he did get antsy near the elevator. Soon, though, it did come down, he got on, and he soon found himself on the twelfth floor.

He got off and was immediately greeted by two doctors. He thought they were waiting for the elevator. They weren't.

"Mr. Norris, yes? Dr. Lucas, and I'm Dr. Powell."

"Yes, hello. This is about my wife?"

"Yes." They led him to a chair nearby, and they offered him a seat. He took it, more out of politeness than anything. He figured that show would move this along faster.

"So," Dr. Powell started. "We have made something of an error on our part. Understandable how it occurred, but still a serious situation. You were told your wife was in surgery."

"Yes." He said. He wanted to burst, to just demand that he see Kelly, but he guessed that would only get him thrown out of the hospital. No, better to be calm.

"Well, your wife, she was in a car accident. I'll spare the graphic details, the damage to her head was severe. Your wife was pronounced brain-dead before arriving to the hospital. A surgery was done, no point in hiding that, but it is not what you think. She..."

"Brain-dead, but then they said she'd make a full recovery and is in a hospital room? Those can't all be true at once! You know what, get your system sorted out. Was the recovery part true or not?"

"Yes, but he brain..."

"Whatever." Evan stood up and went immediately for the room. He saw the door open and he saw partly into the room. It was your normal hospital room, nothing special there and he saw a nurse there looking like she was moving a bit of equipment back from the bed. The bed was empty and he initially panicked until he caught glimpse of something.

It was a pair of legs, dressed in black pantyhose. His heart soared, she was okay! What the hell was it with the brain-dead bullshit, anyway? He went turned and walked in and stopped dead in his tracks.

Those legs did lead up to her favorite gray dress, a chic little number she wore at events like that, which led up to her necklace...

That wasn't her necklace. In fact, that was not a necklace at all. Those were stitches around her neck! What...

He then saw her face, her head, but it wasn't hers! Instead, it was the head of a nerdy man in his forties, unattractive looks, short brown hair!

Dr. Powell and Dr. Lucas then both put a hand on each shoulder and politely told him to take a seat back where they came from. It was there that he found out what happened.

She was gone. She was brain-dead. But, her body could be used to help someone else, and they performed this, a head transplant. How, he didn't ask. Someone entering all this information mistook her body being in surgery with her being in surgery, hence when he was called and informed of all of this.

"The medical breakthrough outpaced how we defined it in our various systems. No one had thought about the administrative part of all this." Dr. Lucas said.

"I see." Evan said, numb. "So, what now?"

"We can make arrangements for her remains, however you wish to handle it." Dr. Powell said.

"And the man I saw in there?"

"Honestly, he is not your concern. We will say, he was not involved in any way with what happened to your wife, on any level."

"Can I meet him?"

"What would be the purpose of that?" Dr. Lucas asked.

"I don't know. I don't."

"We can ask him." Dr. Powell said. "If he agrees, we'll allow it. Otherwise, no."

Dr. Powell got up and walked over to the nurse on duty, and then walked into room 1207. A moment later, he returned.

"It's fine, but we'll be outside."

"Fair, I guess." Evan said.

He got up and walked to the room. He saw those legs again, but now he saw her hands holding a heeled boot, one of her favorites, unzipped. He stopped, seeing a foot slip into the boot and zip it up. He let this person put the other one on and then realized the person was standing up. He then entered the room.

"Hello. I'm Evan Norris, your body's husband."

That nerdy head looked surprised, and Evan wasn't sure what was going on. Then, her hand reached and instinctively, Evan shook it.

"I'm Pete, and Evan, I am sorry for your loss. Truly."

Evan wanted to rage at that. Sorry? His head was on my wife's body, and he's sorry! He benefits from this, it should be him! Evan wanted to yell and scream...

...But he saw the man's face and realized that Pete was telling the truth. Pete was sorry. Evan's rage faded some. Remember, Evan, that Pete didn't do a thing here. He's the recipient. He didn't actually do anything wrong.

Evan still felt like Pete did, but he knew that wasn't true and misplacing his rage was useless. No, he could direct that to the hospital who allowed all of this without even telling him what was really going on!

"Pete, I thank you for your sympathy."

"My pleasure." Pete managed to squeak out. Pete didn't really believe that Evan had calmed down. Evan didn't blame him. Evan himself wasn't sure if he had calmed down or not.

"My wife had a phone on her, yes? Is it still around?"

"It should be with her personal affects."

"No, give it to Pete. My number is in there, and I obviously have her number. I'll have the carrier temporarily remove the lock screen so you can get in. I think we should talk soon, but for now, I have things to attend to. Bye."

With that, Evan walked away. He had no idea why he just gave Pete her phone and unlocked it for him. That was crazy, right? Or, in the back of his mind, did he have reason and he was too focused on everything else it just wasn't coming through even his own mind?

Who knows? He had more immediate things to worry about.