Origin

Excerpts from the journal of Jeffery M. Brown

October 29

Dr. Ramirez called today about the results of my cholesterol tests. It turns out that my “bad cholesterol” (whatever that is) is too high, but not by a lot. He recommended that I start taking fish oil every day. I think he’s overreacting a little, but I also think it can’t hurt to take an OTC supplement, so I bought a cheap bottle of generic fish oil capsules on my way home from work. I’ll get tested again in six months to see if it’s helping.

November 3

I know how this sounds, but I’m starting to notice some changes in my body and I think they’re being caused by the fish oil. Unless I keep my skin immersed in water, it dries out very quickly. In an attempt to combat the dryness, my skin is growing scales, especially on my hands. It’s like I’m turning into a lizard or … a fish. I can’t believe I just wrote that, but it’s the only thing that makes sense. I haven’t told Mom yet, because I know she’ll laugh at me, but if things keep progressing, she’ll have to believe me.

November 5

The skin problems are getting worse. My skin is flaking off in protest of not being constantly underwater. Not only that, but I’ve started discharging electricity at random times. I think the fish oil I’m taking must be mixed with electric eel oil as well. I’m trying to gain control of this ability as it might be useful. So far I’m just sending off sparks at random, but I think if I concentrate, I’ll be able to harness this new energy.

November 7

I controlled the electric discharges a few times today! I didn’t have complete control the whole day, but I was able to intentionally generate electricity more than once. Like at work, I took a break from folding sweaters to walk up to Alyssa; I touched her on the arm and I shocked her! She thought that it was just static electricity, which I’m happy letting her believe. It’s going to take more practice to fully control it, but if my assumptions are correct, I should be able to generate even larger electrical discharges before long. Maybe I’ll even be able to charge my phone just by thinking about it.

November 11

I’m not sure if I can continue taking the fish oil. I’m no closer to controlling my electrical powers and my scales are getting so bad that my hands are bleeding off and on all day. I even turned in worksheet today that had small smudges of blood on it. Plus, I don’t know where my changes will end. Will I grow gills and have to live in the ocean? Will I become cold-blooded? Will I lose my hands and grow flippers? The risks may be too great …

November 13

I called Dr. Ramirez and explained what was happening and told him that I couldn’t keep taking the fish oil. I didn’t want to tell him why, but he kept asking, so I told him everything. I expected him to laugh at me, but instead he was quiet for a while. When he responded, he apologized for not warning me. He said that there had been rumors (but no documented cases) of people having these kinds of reactions, but they were very rare. He said that the fish oil was still good for my cholesterol, but I could reverse the side effects by using lotion with cocoa butter. He explained that because fish are animals, their natural opposites are plants and cocoa is a powerful one. I told him that I already eat chocolate, but he said that the cocoa butter needed to be absorbed topically. Which makes sense: I’m being turned into a fish from the inside-out, so to reverse it, the antidote would need to go from the outside-in.

November 17

The cocoa butter is working. I’ve stopped discharging electricity and my skin is returning to normal. I am a little sad that I have to give up my super powers, but I know this is for the best. Besides, I probably wouldn’t make a very good hero since I don’t have a tragic origin story. Anyway, I’m sure that Alyssa wouldn’t be interested in a fish-man, so it’s better to stay a normal human. Maybe once I’m back to normal, I’ll finally ask her out.