An unnamed young woman living in modern-day Lagos, Nigeria. Independent and quietly observant, she finds herself entangled in an affair with an older married man. She questions the societal expectations placed on women around her and often feels alienated by her coworkers' marital obsessions. She drives a damaged car and works in an office where prayer sessions and traditional gender roles dominate the culture.

A wealthy and well-traveled married man who engages in an affair with the narrator. He enjoys courtship rituals and the validation he receives from bestowing favors upon others. Accustomed to the privileges of his class and gender, he operates within strict societal rules that he uses to his advantage. He frequently travels to America and maintains an active interest in birdwatching.

A thirty-two-year-old unmarried woman working alongside the narrator. Consumed by the societal pressure to find a husband, she spends her free time attending various church services dedicated to marriage prospects. She is conscious of social appearances and frequently offers unsolicited moralizing opinions on the narrator's unconventional lifestyle. She wears a hair weave that frequently makes her scalp itch.

An affluent, fair-skinned woman stuck in traffic alongside the narrator. Adorned with expensive hair extensions and high-end cosmetics, she exudes the quiet confidence of a wealthy wife. Her continuous staring prompts the narrator to reflect on her own choices and the sharp differences in how society treats married versus unmarried women.

The personal driver for the lover. He keenly understands the social hierarchies of his employer's life. He shows deference to those with official status while dismissing those without it.

The manager at the narrator and Chikwado's workplace. He enforces subservient gender roles, notably by demanding the female employees serve cake. At the same time, he grovels to wealthy, powerful men who visit the office.

A volatile driver who collides with the narrator's vehicle in Lagos traffic. Instead of apologizing for the accident, he angrily berates her. He uses her unmarried status to dismiss her completely.

A hospitality worker at the restaurant frequently visited by the narrator and her lover. He pointedly greets the lover while ignoring the narrator. This action actively enforces the societal rule that unmarried women lack formal status.