Father?
Speak up.
Why are you always mad at me? Did I do something wrong?
No, it's not you. It's fate.
Are you angry at Mr. Fate as well?
No. Fate isn't something you can control.
But that isn't fair.
Well, I'm not always mad at you, my dear. I… am just tired sometimes.
Oh! But sometimes that feels like forever, father.
I'm saying it doesn't. Now, tell me, what's known as the natural pacemaker of our hearts?
I… is it the atrioventricular node?
That's wrong. It's the SA node. You… you have to know this stuff. I won't be there for you all your life.
Sorry, father.
We went over this yesterday. You'll need to know this stuff when you're older.
… Yes, father.
Good. Now go get me a glass of wine. There's a bottle in the kitchen.
I don't like that drink.
What did she ask you?
Just… something about fate. Not that important.
Whatever. Have you considered putting her in coaching?
No, not yet.
You're unbelievable.
Oh come on!
You said you'd call them.
…
Nathan?
I said I'd think about it.
I'm tired of this.
Tired of what? Listening to our daughter?
Tired of you not even considering my advice.
Can we stop? Have we ever asked her what she wants to be?
What do you think she wants to be?
She likes flowers and bees. Hell, I don't know. She could do well as a florist.
Flowers don't pay rent, Nathan.
…
We have to put her somewhere she can thrive—
She can thrive in whatever she chooses. She tries her best every time, but she still doesn't score very well. Why don't we—
That just proves she needs better guidance. You're only defending her as you can't bring yourself to push her. You'll blame me when she fails, anyway.
You don't want her to succeed. You just want yourself to be the reason behind her success.
Oh really?
…
I just want to see her happy—
She won't be happy doing something she doesn't like—
Haha. Bees.
Wait. What do I like again?
Hey Nathan,
I haven't heard from you in a long time. Your phone's been switched off lately, so I couldn't contact you either. Did something happen at work last week? You seemed very out of it, as if you just weren't there. I don't know if this is too abrupt, but please, if something's bothering you, tell me. If this is about your job, I can help. You are as proficient as your father, if not better. Meet me. Let's talk face-to-face. I'm too tired for this.
P.S. Don't forget to take your meds on time.
Regards,
Lisa
Nathan,
Mother expected a lot from you. You are a failure.
Regards,
Lisa
Ha. Thought so.
Item: SCP-L085
Class: [DATA LOST]
Special containment procedures: SCP-L085 is to remain sealed and inaccessible except during authorized testing. Attempts to read SCP-L085 are strictly prohibited.
Description: SCP-L085 is a journal covered in flowers. It contains the writings of a father and anatomically accurate descriptions of the human body.
I have to take my meds on time.
Addendum-L085.1: D-Class personnel were instructed to read the journal. The following logs are transcribed.
Hello. Thank you for reading this, my daughter. I made this book for you in case you ever decide to pursue the same career as me. Don't worry, I know you can do it. Believe in yourself.
The mammalian heart is unique and efficient. During one complete circuit through the body, blood passes through the heart twice. It first enters the right atrium before passing into the right ventricle, from which it is sent to the lungs for oxygenation. The lungs then send it back to the heart, where it enters through the left atrium and passes into the left ventricle. Finally, it is pumped throughout the body. This is known as double circulation.
Page 3
Effect(s): The subject exhibits acute agitation and subsequently experiences a massive myocardial infarction. Prior to death, the subject attempts to forcibly extract their own heart from the thoracic cavity using their bare hands. They fail to do so. Post-mortem examination revealed severe compression of the subject's heart by an unidentified force.
Circulatory, skeletal and nervous system
Ah. Pleasant memories.
Father?
Hm?
Can I become a doctor one day?
Of course! You just need a lot of practice.
A doctor like you?
Probably better than me, if you work hard. You're a smart kid.
Oh! Would we work together?
Sure! But for that, you have to defeat me in anatomy quizzes.
Not fair! You know a lot more than me.
And you can learn what I know, through me! Brownie points if you find out something I don't.
What if I don't want to be a doctor?
That's up to you.
Father?
Tell me.
Why did your smile vanish so suddenly?
I don't know what else you want me to say.
Okay. Sorry.
I haven't eaten anything since yesterday. I'm full.
Addendum-L085.2:
I… don't know if this will be of any use to you. Your mother and I have been having a difficult time lately, so… Look, consider this to be an apology from me.
The lymphatic system operates as a one-way drainage system. Lymphatic capillaries collect excess interstitial fluid, which includes proteins and waste products. This fluid then flows into larger lymphatic vessels, passing through lymph nodes, where it is filtered. Along the way, immune cells like lymphocytes inspect and eliminate pathogens. The filtered lymph is ultimately returned to the bloodstream through lymphatic ducts that empty into the venous circulation near the junctions of the subclavian and internal jugular veins.
Page 14
Effect(s): The subject develops the conviction that an unidentified contaminant is circulating through their lymphatic system. The subject subsequently attempts to drain the perceived contaminant by repeatedly perforating areas of the body corresponding to major lymph-node clusters. The resulting wounds progressively deepen as the subject attempts to manually extract accessible lymph nodes. The subject expires 28 minutes after the onset of this behaviour.
Lymphatic system
Why do I need to know this?
Hey Nathan,
I'm really sorry about what I said earlier. I didn't mean it; I was just too angry and upset because you were gone. We ran into each other today. I have never been more pissed at someone in my life before, not even you. Anyway, I just got fired today. Sucks, but I'll recover quickly. Fuck me, I can't even send this to you because I don't know where the fuck you are.
Regards,
Lisa
Hey Nathan,
I need money. I'm out on the streets, and I still haven't found a job. Some teenagers wrecked my stall last night. Everything's gone, and there's nothing I can fucking do about it. I'm cold, I don't have a blanket. I wonder if things would have been different if I had been like you. Both of you.
Lisa
Hey.
Yes?
Your grandfather was a doctor.
Oh.
He pushed me to be one too. I never liked studying.
I see.
That's it?
She asked me what I'm going to do in life.
What was your answer?
To be different from both of you.
I wish I hadn't said that.
Hi baby!
…
Are you mad at mom?
No. I just took three exams, so I'm just tired.
Rest up. You have two more in the evening.
Can I skip those two? I think I'm sick.
You have time. Remember, you have to score higher than your friends in order to—
Yeah, I get it. Fucking hell.
My stomach is burning.
Addendum-L085.3:
Your mother wants you to be better. Please don't be angry at her, she just wants you to be successful. For your cooperation, let me reward you with a delicious fact about digestion!
The small intestine has three parts. The first part is called the duodenum. The jejunum is in the middle, and the ileum is at the end. The large intestine includes the appendix, cecum, colon, and rectum. The appendix is a finger-shaped pouch attached to the cecum. The cecum is the first part of the large intestine. The colon is next. The rectum is the end of the large intestine.
Page 21
Effect(s): The subject vomits continuously for three minutes. Fragments of flesh and tissue enveloped in mucus can be seen in the vomit. Following the cessation of vomiting, the subject's soft tissues and muscle begin to rapidly deteriorate. Within 19 minutes, no organic tissue remains apart from the subject's skeletal remains. Over the following several hours, flowering plants of various species manifest within and around the skeletal remains, progressively replacing them.
Cells of small intestine
Where's my brain?
Father?
Hm?
I'm lost.
…
I followed everything you said, every damn thing. I aced my exams, stopped seeing my friends, and lost everything I cared about. The only humans I spoke to were you and Mother.
…
You didn't even let me keep the one thing I loved. A damn puppy.
…
Don't bullshit me. I became a doctor. Like you. You still didn't talk to me.
…
No! I found nothing after becoming a doctor. Nothing. You didn't let me love. You married me off to a stranger.
…
Her mother wants her to be rich. She wants to… I don't know what she wants to be. I… want her to live.
…
I don't even know what my daughter likes.
…
You're right. She likes flowers and bees and… Fuck. I knew that.
…
…
Hm?
I didn't raise her like you raised me. I thought I did better.
…
Didn't I?
Hm.
"Hm"? "Hm"? That's what I get? After all that I said?
…
Why don't you fucking say anything?
…
WHY ARE YOU SILENT NOW, FATHER?
…
I wish I could despise you beyond death.
Hey Nathan,
I am fine now. I have a stable job. I got a kitten too. She's annoying, but I love her.
I also met a boy yesterday. He's pretty cute.
I don't want to get into too much detail in a letter and shit.
She left yesterday. I don't know where she went, and I don't care. But before leaving, she told me everything. Everything. I wish I could break her teeth, but I controlled myself. Please, Dad, just come back.
Regards,
Lisa
...
...
There it is.
Lisa,
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Regards,
Nathan
The brain is a complicated organ.
[DATA REDACTED]
