An unnamed online influencer who gains viral fame in the portal with a post asking, "Can a dog be twins?" She travels the globe giving presentations about the social impacts of the internet while battling intense physical and mental dissociation. Her daily routine involves policing online opinions, decoding new internet slang, and relying on her digital popularity for self-worth. When a family medical emergency occurs, she puts her online existence on hold.

The unborn child of the protagonist's sister. Diagnosed in utero with Proteus syndrome, a severe condition characterized by asymmetrical and rapid bodily growth. Doctors predict an inability to form typical neural synapses and doubt her chances of survival. Her existence entirely outside the portal provides a stark contrast to the protagonist's hyper-digital life, completely altering the family's priorities.

The protagonist's younger sister who lives in Ohio and belongs to a slightly younger cultural generation. When her pregnancy is complicated by a rare syndrome that threatens her own health, she finds herself restricted by the state's conservative reproductive laws. She chooses to continue the pregnancy to maintain her relationship with her traditional parents, demonstrating immense patience and devotion to her child.

The protagonist's spouse, who maintains a deliberate distance from the portal to avoid feeling "full" when he dies. He works in an office, participates in a secretive exercise group, and gets a small "STOP IT" tattoo on his hairline as a political protest against the country's dictator. He acts as an anchor to reality, though he sometimes struggles to reach his wife through her screens.

The matriarch of the Ohio-based family. She alerts the protagonist via text message that something has gone wrong with the pregnancy, prompting her daughter's immediate return home. She provides daily support to her pregnant daughter and helps the protagonist search the house for potential environmental toxins.

A retired police officer and conservative patriarch living in Ohio. His political and social beliefs often cause friction with the protagonist, particularly his opposition to abortion even when it endangers his pregnant daughter's life. Despite his rigidity regarding state laws and personal politics, he remains deeply involved with his family's medical emergency.

The protagonist's brother, who hunts for the family's meals and possesses military training. He discusses his willingness to use his skills to protect the family in an apocalyptic scenario. He frequently uses internet slang in his text messages, which irritates the protagonist.