Yoli is a writer in her forties living in Toronto with her teenage daughter, Nora. She is going through a divorce and struggles to write a literary novel after achieving commercial success with a young adult series. She loves her sister deeply and sets aside her daily life to sit by Elf's hospital bed, desperately trying to keep her alive by sharing stories and childhood memories.

Elf is a brilliant, internationally renowned concert pianist who grew up resisting her restrictive Mennonite upbringing. In her forties and married to Nic, she lives with severe depression and repeatedly asks her sister to help her secure an assisted death in Switzerland. Her artistic practice brings her both exhilaration and profound anxiety.

Lottie is Yoli and Elf's mother, a widow in her seventies living in a Winnipeg apartment. Despite facing immense family hardship, she maintains a remarkably resilient and positive outlook. She actively participates in her community, plays online Scrabble, and relies on her remaining family for emotional support.

Nic is Elf's husband, a scientifically minded man who shares his wife's passion for travel, literature, and music. He is deeply devoted to caring for Elf and hopes her scheduled piano tour will re-energize her and help combat her severe depression.

Julie is Yoli's best friend, who also grew up in the East Village Mennonite community. She lives in Winnipeg with her husband and children. She acts as a nonjudgmental sounding board for Yoli, offering a safe space to smoke, drink, and discuss difficult ethical questions without shame.

Tina is Lottie's sister and the aunt of Yoli and Elf. She travels from Vancouver to support her sister during Elf's hospitalization. Like the Von Riesen family, she carries the grief of losing an immediate family member to suicide.

Nora is Yoli's teenage daughter, who lives with her in Toronto to attend a specialized dance school. She remains in Toronto while her mother travels, offering emotional support via phone and text during the family's ongoing crises.

Jack is Yoli and Elf's father and Lottie's late husband. He struggled with depression and clashed with the Mennonite community elders, particularly when he supported Elf's musical talents by sneaking a piano into their home.

Will is Yoli's son and Nora's half-brother. He lives in New York City but travels to Toronto to look after his younger sister when their mother rushes to Winnipeg for a family emergency.

Dan is Yoli's estranged husband and Nora's father. He is currently working in Borneo while going through divorce proceedings with Yoli.

Barry is Yoli's former partner and the father of her adult son, Will.

Radek is one of Yoli's romantic partners in Winnipeg. He is a gentle man who provides Yoli with a place to talk, though he reveals a long-standing infatuation with Elf's piano performances.

Finbar is a lawyer and one of Yoli's romantic partners. Yoli occasionally reaches out to him for legal advice regarding the medical options for her sister.

Claudio is Elf's dedicated musical agent. He worries about her well-being and her ability to participate in her scheduled performances across Europe.

Janice is a nurse in the psychiatric ward where Elf is receiving care. She tries to offer Elf compassionate medical support while fielding Yoli's anxious questions about treatment plans.

Jason is a mechanic who knew Yoli during college. Now also going through a divorce, he reconnects with Yoli when she brings in Lottie's broken-down car for repairs.

Frank is Tina's husband and Lottie's brother-in-law. He travels to Winnipeg with his daughter to be with his wife during a family medical emergency.

Sheila is Tina and Frank's daughter. She travels to Winnipeg to be with her family while her mother requires immediate medical attention.

Leni is Tina's late daughter and Yoli's cousin, whose early death deeply impacted the extended family and parallels their current struggles.

Nelson is a painter hired by Yoli to help repair and renovate her new home in Toronto.