A seventeen-year-old boy suffering from severe memory loss who wakes up in a train station unsure of his real name or how he arrived in New York. Possessing only a ten-dollar bill and a copy of Thoreau's *Walden*, he temporarily adopts the name Henry David to mask his vulnerability. He relies heavily on literature, utilizing his photographic memory of the text to soothe his anxious mind while searching for a safe haven.

A researcher and Henry David Thoreau interpreter working in Concord, Massachusetts. Having overcome a troubled youth, he approaches lost teenagers with immense patience. He recognizes the protagonist's vulnerability and offers material assistance, emotional support, and a safe place to stay without aggressively demanding the truth about his past.

Unhoused siblings attempting to survive on the streets of New York City after escaping an abusive home. Seventeen-year-old Jack uses humor and quick thinking to survive their difficult circumstances, while his fifteen-year-old sister Nessa relies on his fierce protection. They demonstrate immediate kindness by sharing their limited resources with a disoriented stranger.

A musically talented high school student who enthusiastically befriends the newcomer, believing his cover story about moving to town. She manages chronic diabetes, a condition that negatively impacts her confidence regarding public singing performances. Welcoming and supportive, she invites him to collaborate musically for an upcoming Battle of the Bands competition.

A high school student and musician who has known Hailey since childhood. Their previously close relationship fractured following a failed romantic attempt and a covered-up car accident that resulted in his license suspension. He views the protagonist's sudden arrival and closeness to Hailey with immediate, open hostility.

A ruthless drug dealer operating an illicit business in the city. He employs vulnerable, unhoused teenagers to distribute his products on the streets. He maintains strict control over his operation by utilizing threats and brandishing firearms to ensure silence.

A volatile young man who purchases illicit substances in New York City. Believing his drugs have been cut with sugar, his furious demand for money quickly escalates into a dangerous physical altercation involving a knife.

A troubled individual wandering the train station who suffers from a disorder compelling him to consume non-food items. His brief physical scuffle over a copy of *Walden* creates an early moment of chaos and panic.

A local nurse and reliable associate of Thomas in Concord. She utilizes her professional medical skills to quietly assist injured teenagers, providing safe and effective care outside of a traditional hospital setting.

A custodian working at the Henry David Thoreau Regional High School. She projects her personal grief onto the mysterious teenager sleeping in the school, feeling a strong emotional pull because he closely resembles her deceased son.

A practical janitor employed at the local high school. He takes a direct and firm approach upon discovering an unauthorized teenager on the premises, urging the boy to leave and return to his family.

A student at the Henry David Thoreau Regional High School. As an observant peer, she is quick to notice when Hailey appears physically unwell and expresses immediate concern for her health.