Title is a metaphor for a woman who has an intimate love for an Egypt that has long gone. Set in the days of the Arab Spring and paralleled with the ironies of other (past) archaeologists from nearby countries that have lost their concessions or research due to current unrest in the region.
The main character is also a former Olympic diver for Egypt. She left the sport with the unsettled notion of whether or not she enjoyed spinning in the air or being caught by the safety net of the waters below.