Rachel is an eleven-year-old student who expects her birthday to bring immediate wisdom and emotional control. Instead, she finds herself overwhelmed by an incident in her classroom. She longs to be invisible when she is unable to stand up for herself against her teacher's demands.

Salvador is a young boy living in poverty who functions as a tiny adult for his household. He shoulders the heavy responsibility of waking, feeding, and walking his little brothers to school each day. His quiet demeanor masks a deep sadness over missing out on a regular childhood.

Micaela is a young girl exploring her bi-cultural identity as a "Merican." She feels disconnected from her grandmother's intense religious devotion and equally alienated from the American tourists who mistakenly assume she only speaks Spanish.

Ixchel is a thirteen-year-old girl seeking romance and poetry in her predictable life. She feels smothered by her grandmother's strict rules and the daily labor required of her. Desperate for independence, she is highly susceptible to grandiose stories of royalty and ancient lineage.

Cleofilas is a young woman raised on romantic television shows, hoping for a passionate and pure love story. Isolated in a small Texas town where she does not speak the primary language, she struggles to reconcile her romantic ideals with the harsh reality of her daily life.

Juan Pedro is Cleofilas's husband who brings her across the border to Texas. He spends increasing amounts of time away from home and reacts with sudden anger to simple requests, alternating between violent outbursts and tearful apologies.

Carmen is a confident woman who pursues relationships strictly on her own terms. She gravitates toward attached men and refuses to be tied down by jealous partners, maintaining her energetic social life even after facing threats.

Clemencia is an artist who actively rejects the institution of marriage in favor of a makeshift, independent life. Carrying deep resentments from her childhood, she engages in long-term affairs and views herself as an accomplice in disrupting the domestic lives of others.

Ines is a devoted woman gifted with supernatural sight, allowing her to perceive time in a non-linear fashion. Despite facing severe judgment from her family and periods of intense lovesickness, she remains steadfast in her belief in her enduring connection to her partner.

Emiliano is a war-weary leader with a commanding presence and fierce eyes. He is constantly pulled away from his domestic life by the demands of a political revolution, yet he continually returns to the women who wait for him.

Lupe is a well-educated Mexican American artist deeply invested in Aztec mythology and indigenous culture. After hiring an exterminator, she finds herself captivated by his authentic background, leading her to rethink her artistic projects and her understanding of romance.

Lucy is a young girl growing up in a large family where traditional rules are rarely enforced. She embraces a carefree childhood of running barefoot, picking at scabs, and daring her friends to look under dark porches. Her home life is defined by the scent of cooking corn tortillas and a lack of strict parental supervision.

Mrs. Price is a strict schoolteacher who expects quick compliance from her students. She incorrectly assumes an old red sweater belongs to Rachel and refuses to listen to the girl's quiet denials.

Alfredito is one of Micaela's brothers. He passes the time waiting for his grandmother by playing American pop-culture games, entirely uninterested in the religious rituals occurring inside.

Enrique is Micaela's brother, who joins his siblings in pretending to be Flash Gordon. He shares their impatience with their grandmother's lengthy prayers and their clear Americanized identity.

Chato is a 37-year-old man from an impoverished background. His sister is a Carmelite nun who corresponds with Ixchel's family, offering prayers and sharing details about his origins.

Patricia is a highly intelligent teenager who was doubly promoted in school. She prefers the nickname Trish and attempts to speak with a soft English accent. She wears rhinestone earrings and glitter-covered heels, trying to stand out while working long hours at her family's Father and Son Taco Palace.

Max is a local boy whose social connections make him a subject of interest at school. He is rumored to have romantic feelings for one of his classmates.

Juan Pedrito is a baby growing up in an increasingly unstable household. He represents Cleofilas's growing ties to her difficult life in Texas.

Graciela is a medical worker who pays close attention to her patients' well-being. Upon noticing signs of distress, she immediately takes action by calling a trusted friend to organize an intervention.

Felice is a fiercely independent woman who owns her own vehicle and speaks Spanish with a heavy American accent. She defies traditional gender expectations, using her resources and loud voice to help other women escape dangerous situations.

Dolores is an elderly, widowed woman living in a small Texas town. She represents the quiet, lonely domestic life that surrounds Cleofilas in her new home.

Soledad is another elderly widow in the Texas neighborhood. Her presence highlights the lack of active community support available to younger women in the area.

Jose is a military corporal who becomes fiercely possessive of his romantic partner. His infatuation turns into a dangerous obsession when he feels rejected, leading him to disappear entirely.

Ximena is Clemencia's sister. The two share the burden of growing up under their mother's constant warnings about marriage and class disparities.

Owen is a white man who becomes Clemencia's stepfather. His integration into the family shifts the household dynamics entirely, redirecting his new wife's attention to him and his sons.

Drew is an art teacher who becomes deeply entangled with his student. Despite his frequent discussions about changing his life, he remains firmly anchored to his existing domestic commitments.

Megan is Drew's wife. She attends art events with her husband, completely unaware of the deep, lingering resentments held by the people in his professional circle.

Tia Chucha is Ines's independent aunt who also possesses supernatural sight. She serves as a vital mentor, passing down her knowledge of herbalism and magic to ensure her niece can survive independently.

Nicholas is the young son of Ines and Emiliano. His childhood is deeply shaped by his father's revolutionary activities and his mother's protective vigilance.

Malenita is Ines's daughter. Her future is perceived through her mother's supernatural sight, representing the continuation of their family's lineage of independent women.

Josefa is Emiliano Zapata's wife. She represents one of the many domestic and romantic commitments that divide his attention during the revolution.

Flavio is a practical-minded exterminator born in Mexico who also writes poetry. His gravelly voice and traditional background deeply captivate Lupe, though his sudden family obligations cause an abrupt shift in their dynamic.