Dawn is a death doula living in Boston, supporting clients through the end-of-life process. Fifteen years ago, she was a promising doctoral student in Egyptology at Yale, but left her studies and her first love behind following her mother's terminal cancer diagnosis. Currently, she is experiencing marital difficulties and struggling to bridge the growing gap between herself and her teenage daughter.

Wyatt is a British Egyptologist and the director of the archaeological dig at Deir el-Bersha. Born into the British aristocracy and expected to enter banking, he instead cultivated a passionate, sometimes arrogant persona to pursue his fascination with ancient tombs. He remains intensely dedicated to discovering a specific tomb he and Dawn theorized about as students.

Brian is a methodical, science-minded physics professor focusing on parallel universes. He met Dawn at the hospice where both their loved ones were staying fifteen years ago. Grounded and intensely devoted to his family, he approaches his current marital conflicts as a problem to be solved with logic and research.

Meret is Dawn and Brian's fourteen-year-old daughter. Highly intelligent and passionate about science, she struggles with severe body image insecurities and bullying from her peers. Feeling physically different from her slender parents, she often feels like an outsider in her own home.

Win is a charismatic artist diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer. Sharing the exact same birthdate as Dawn, she provides a sharp reflection of Dawn's own life choices. As her illness progresses, Win focuses on her legacy and harbors unresolved feelings regarding a secret from her time studying art in Paris.

Felix is Win's devoted husband. He met her a few years after she returned from Paris and happily stepped into the role of father to her young son. As Win's primary caregiver, he is struggling with her declining health and grasps at any sign of her recovery.

Anya is a wealthy woman with a family legacy in Egyptology. She initially connects with Wyatt by funding his search for ancient tombs, eventually becoming romantically involved with him.

Kieran is Dawn's younger brother. He was thirteen when their mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer, a traumatic event that led to Dawn stepping in as his guardian and radically changing the course of her life.

Gita is a young, beautiful doctoral student working under Brian's supervision. Her obvious attraction to Brian exacerbates the existing tensions in his marriage.

Thane is an art professor currently living in London. Years ago, he had a passionate affair with Win while she was an art student in Paris.

Alberto is a graduate student assisting Wyatt at the Deir el-Bersha archaeological dig. He is fiercely protective of the project and wary of anyone who might jeopardize their funding.

Abigail is an experienced death doula. She serves as a professional confidante for Dawn, offering objective advice when Dawn struggles with the ethical boundaries of her work.

Harbi is the caretaker of the Dig House near the Deir el-Bersha necropolis. He is a familiar face who remembers Dawn from her previous time studying in Egypt.

Ian is the former head of the Egyptology department at Yale. He oversaw the academic progress of both Dawn and Wyatt during their time as doctoral students.

Arlo is Win's deceased son, who died three years prior to the events of the story. His difficult life and tragic death profoundly impacted Win and Felix.