Vivian Bearing
Vivian is a university professor of English Literature, with a specialization in seventeenth-century poetry. We find her in hospital, dying of ovarian cancer. She is 50 years old.
Harvey Kelekian
The Chief of Medical Oncology at the hospital where Vivian is living her last days. Like his patient, he is 50.
Jason Posner
A clinical fellow in the Department of Medical Oncology. Now a student of Dr Kelekian, he was once a student of Dr Bearing's. He is 28 years old.
Susie Monahan
Dr Bearing's primary nurse. Like Jason, she is 28 years old.
Dr E M Ashford
Vivian's former college professor, a professor emerita of English Literature. She is 80 years old.
Mr Bearing
Vivian's father.
