This is beautiful.
♥

I really like the way you show how River can compartmentalize her memories, undoubtedly the only way she can live the life she has tried to build with the man she loves.
A lot of this is just from trying to work out what must have happened... And she must have hidden her actual memories somewhere 'out of sight'. Plus, she clearly excels at compartmentalisation.

At the end, the hint of a call back to Donna was unexpected, but particularly appreciated (although his use of the word "lesser" was ... less than diplomatic.
And now I have spent waaaaay too long trying to find the line where he insults human brains (there is something about 'how do you get around in those things?'). Anyway, he is never unaware of who and what he is. (As always: "Yeah, I know what an allegory is," said Ace.)

The bed, the pond in which the couple could swim toward and through each other, was a bit of beautiful imagery as well.
It was a ridiculous joke, but also very fitting?

So, yes, beautiful. Thank you for writing this.
Thank you for reading. <3