Jesmyn Ward
The author appears as the narrator of these stories which are nonfictional in nature. She tells of five deaths which all happened in the early 2000's, who were all friends or family, who were all men, and whose deaths affected her horrifically. She often reflects on the nature of trauma, tragedy, horror, suffering, and pain.
Roger Daniels
Roger Eric Daniels III was only 23 when a drug overdose stopped his heart. He stayed dead for four days until someone found his body. The autopsy revealed that he had combined a handful of prescription medicine with a high dose of cocaine.
Demond Cook
Cook was shot and killed while walking into his house. He was scheduled to testify against a local drug dealer, but Ward believes that the shooting was actually the dealer's gang, preventing his testimony. In other words, Ward believes that Cook is a martyr for his testimony.
CJ Martin
This is Ward's close friend and relative, who was a brooding person convinced that his fate was to die young and tragically. He spent much of his life reflecting openly about his existential dread. He died in an explosion when a train collided with his car.
Ronald Lizana
Ronald Wayne Lizana shot himself at his sisters apartment. He was a friend of Ward's, and he was in love with his girlfriend, but their constant fighting and his severe mental health issues ultimately culminated in a nightmarish discovery—Lizana's death.
Ward's brother.
The final death is one that is close to home. Ward's own brother was killed in a tragic drunk driving accident, and when the driver fled from the accident and was caught and arrested, he was only charged with the hit-and-run—not the death. The family suffered the brother's death with no compensation of any kind.
