The novel explores the complexity of family heritage, particularly when marked by absence and tragedy. Virginia seeks to understand her father's influence, a mythical and elusive figure, on her life and choices. She is torn between the attraction of freedom and the need for stability, between fascination with adventure and fear of loss.

The search for traces of her father and brother becomes an identity quest for Virginia. By retracing their journey across the world, she tries to understand her own aspirations, fears, and motivations. The ocean becomes a mirror, reflecting both the immensity of her heritage and the fragility of her existence.

Faced with the immensity of the sea and the silence of the missing, writing becomes Virginia's refuge, a means to fix memories, anchor lives tossed by the waves. The novel celebrates the power of words, their ability to weave connections between generations, give meaning to chaos, and bring the past back to life.