The narrator
The unnamed first-person narrator is the story's protagonist. On page 36, the narrator says that she deliberately refuses to introduce herself for personal reasons, but she apologizes and says she also hates novels with unnamed narrators. The narrator remains nameless throughout the novel, and she gives an account of how she struggles with grief after her mother's death.
Ten months after the death of the narrator's mother, she embarks on a spontaneous trip to London, trying to escape grief. While in London, the narrator visits several places. Towards the end of the trip, the narrator realizes that the vacation did least to distract her from grief. Instead, her mother's memories kept popping up whenever she visited new places.
The narrator’s mother
The narrator's mother is a secretive woman who wants to keep her problems away from people around her. Initially, the mother refuses to tell her daughter she is not feeling well. When the narrator discovers that the mother sometimes falls, she asks why that is happening, and the mother responds sarcastically. For instance, the mother says that falling is her talent. The mother is later hospitalized and spends several days in the hospital. The narrator is optimistic that her mother will recover, especially when the doctors confirm that she responds well to medication. Unfortunately, the mother dies shortly after doctors say she is about to be discharged from the hospital.
The little girl
The little girl is also an unnamed character who interacts with the narrator on her London trip. The little girl is outgoing and curious. When she meets the narrator, she inquires about her name. However, the narrator tells the little girl that her identity is complex and she cannot reveal it. The little girl walks away unsatisfied.
