Zaleekhah sits quietly in a black cab arranged by Uncle Malek, gazing at the blur of London’s cityscape as it rushes past her window. She views the city not just as a monumental collection of historical landmarks, but as a living, breathing entity, shaped over time by its rivers—some known, some buried. The River Fleet, once a bustling artery of commerce, now lies hidden under layers of concrete, a silent testament to the city’s transformation and a metaphor for forgotten histories. Likewise, the River Effra remains largely ignored beneath the urban sprawl, while the Tyburn River, once teeming with salmon, is now lost under the city’s infrastructure. Even the Westbourne flows unnoticed under Sloane Square Tube station, and these rivers, though unseen, hold within them the whispers of time and the echoes of stories long gone, just as Zaleekhah reflects on her own internal narratives, buried beneath the weight of life’s demands.

When Zaleekhah arrives at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in Bermondsey, the sterile, bureaucratic office environment greets her. The workplace feels cold and impersonal, designed more for efficiency and collaboration than human connection. Yet, it is here that Zaleekhah finds herself, her name now etched on a door, marking her place in a professional world she has crafted, but one that feels disconnected from the woman she once was. As she sits in her new office, she grapples with the disillusionment of her crumbling marriage. Once, her husband had been her entire world, the center around which all her life revolved. But now, the relationship is a shadow of what it was, and the realization of its slow disintegration haunts her every thought.

The memory of Professor Berenberg, her late mentor, emerges unbidden. His theory of ‘aquatic memory’—the idea that water holds onto the memories of substances it comes in contact with—had once consumed her. Though ridiculed and dismissed by his peers, his groundbreaking research had made a lasting impact on Zaleekhah, leaving her with a sense of unfinished business. After his untimely death, Zaleekhah secretly continued his work, exploring the validity of his controversial ideas. This pursuit, however, caused tension with her husband, who viewed her dedication to Berenberg’s theories as a distraction from their already strained relationship. The discovery of her obsession led to a clash, bringing unresolved emotions to the surface, and highlighting the deep divides between her aspirations and her husband’s expectations.

The confrontation with her husband reveals more than just disagreements over Berenberg’s legacy—it exposes the deeper cracks in their marriage. Zaleekhah’s unspoken feelings for Berenberg, complicated by her intellectual and emotional attachment to his work, become an insurmountable issue for her husband, who cannot accept such complexity in their relationship. After the painful argument, Zaleekhah decides to leave their home, seeking solace in the lab where she feels closest to Berenberg’s spirit. Alone and surrounded by the remnants of their shared research, she is confronted by the realization of her inability to truly communicate with her husband. This moment of solitude forces her to face the emotional toll of her choices, and the weight of Berenberg’s influence on her life becomes undeniable.

As she lies on the office sofa, preparing to sleep in the sanctuary of her workplace, Zaleekhah reflects on the rivers of time, their unseen presence a constant reminder of what has been lost and what continues to flow unceasingly. These rivers, like the currents of her own life, move silently but powerfully, shaping her path in ways both subtle and profound. Zaleekhah comes to understand her attraction to those driven by larger-than-life dreams, recognizing the cost such dedication brings—an unrelenting commitment that can blur the lines between personal sacrifice and self-actualization. Despite the sacrifices, she acknowledges that these ambitions, though often perilous, have the power to shape the future in ways she still longs to understand.