Travis is the timeless, supernatural personification of Death who collects the souls of the dying. Living a solitary existence under the name Travis Smith in a sparse apartment, his primary anchor to humanity is his meticulous restoration of old photographs. His eternal detachment from human emotion is unexpectedly challenged when he forms a bond with the family living across the hall.

Dalia is a weary but resilient midwife and single mother living in the apartment across from Travis. Her profession as a giver of life grounds her in the tangible, human world. Managing the daily challenges of raising two young daughters, she finds herself unexpectedly connecting with her quiet neighbor, finding his presence calming.

Layla is Dalia's precocious and perceptive eight-year-old daughter. She is highly creative, carrying around a toy camera to take black-and-white photos of seemingly mundane objects. Bold and direct, she pushes past Travis's solitary boundaries to invite him into her family's life, displaying a wisdom beyond her years.

Nick is Layla's father and Dalia's former partner. He struggles with a severe alcohol addiction that has made him an unreliable and absent figure in his daughter's life, carrying a heavy burden of guilt and childhood trauma that he attempts to self-medicate.

Neda is Dalia's infant daughter and Layla's younger sister. She is a constant, demanding presence in Dalia's busy life as a single working mother.

Solomon is Neda's father and Dalia's former partner. He maintains a stable and seemingly perfect life with his pregnant fiancée, creating a source of complicated feelings for Dalia when she relies on him for help.

Samuel is a twenty-nine-year-old man who is involved in a severe car crash at the beginning of the novel. His terrifying accident brings him face-to-face with a supernatural entity who provides him with unexpected comfort.

John is an eighty-one-year-old published poet and widower. He lives a lonely, solitary existence following the loss of his wife and dog, seeking out small interactions with strangers to fill his days.

Mr. Campbell is Travis's 103-year-old neighbor. He provides Travis with old photographs to meticulously restore, offering the timeless entity a glimpse into human memory.

Dan is a thirty-eight-year-old man living in deep isolation and hoarding conditions. His overwhelming living situation is briefly eased by a gentle visitor who helps him bag up the rubbish.

Noah is a five-month-old baby whom Travis visits. He is entirely innocent and knows no fear when interacting with the supernatural entity.

Enid is an elderly woman who has spent decades hiding her love with her partner Wendy. They share a deeply peaceful and devoted bond in their final years.

Wendy is an elderly woman in a long-term, formerly secretive relationship with her partner Enid.

Mansoor is a man who builds his wife's humble printing stall into a multinational corporation over a decade. Despite his massive financial success, he remains emotionally tethered to his past and the memory of his wife.

Meera is Mansoor's wife, whose humble printing stall serves as the foundation for his future empire. She leaves a profound impact on her family and those she meets.

Krish is Mansoor's youngest and most supportive son. He is reluctant to abandon his life in London with his boyfriend to take over the corporate empire his father built.

Mike is a sixty-one-year-old man obsessed with safety who harbors a dark history of abusing his daughters.

Keith is a former "strongest man in the world" who struggles with severe illness. Beneath his powerful, wealthy image, he harbors deep fears and regrets about being an absent father.

Barry is an unhealthy office manager who refuses to change his destructive habits of eating junk food and smoking, even after a severe medical scare forces him to reevaluate his choices.

Sonia is Barry Lightfoot's ex-wife, to whom he desperately tries to apologize for his failings as a husband and father when he realizes the gravity of his situation.

Lucy is a woman working through complicated grief at her mother's funeral. She is touched by the sincere, resilient bond she shares with her siblings despite their chaotic upbringing.

Alice is Lucy's sister, who is deeply upset by the loss of their mother and tries to deliver a heartfelt eulogy during her brothers' inappropriate behavior.

Carrie is Solomon's pregnant fiancée. She represents a picture of stable, settled domesticity that sharply contrasts with the chaos of Dalia's life.