This flash fiction depicts a hero's journey to the River Lethe, one of five rivers in the Ancient Greek underworld. Drinking from the river results in the loss of memory (Lethe means forgetfulness in Ancient Greek). In some depictions of the river in literature, the dead are required to drink from it before continuing their way through the underworld. 

The "sun-bathed field" refers to Elysium, the realm in which heroes spend their afterlife.

Throughout their life, this hero has never felt true freedom and is only able to attain it once they have drunk from the River Lethe and forgotten their past life.