Claire
Claire, the main character in the short story "Silk Brocade," is a young woman who works in an antique clothing store. She is an intelligent and passionate person who loves vintage dresses. She frequently lives her life to the fullest; although her life revolves around her work, she has fantastic friendships with her friends and colleagues (namely Ann). Over time, Claire's relationship with Ann and her attraction to the world of vintage dresses lead her to make choices that impact her tremendously.
Lottie
Lottie, who plays an important role in the short story "Flight," is a young woman with what appears to be an uncertain future. As she waits for her flight at the airport, she is plagued with difficult memories of her recent trip to Italy, where she had a quick romantic encounter with a young man. Lottie is on the cusp of adulthood and uses her memories and plans for the future as a way to shape her identity and her plans for the future.
Phyllis
Phyllis, who is the main character in the short story "Deeds Not Words," is a retired academic. She spends a significant portion of the story reminiscing about her past, especially her time spent as a professor at her university. She also spends a portion of the story reminiscing about her relationship with her friend, Christina. Throughout the story, she attempts to make sense of her life and how her life came to what it is.
Jane
Jane, the main character in the short story "Bad Dreams," is a young child who lives in a large house. In the story, she experiences a particularly horrific dream one night. In her dream, she encounters a room in her house that she never saw before. The story also delves into Jane's relationship with her mother and how she understands the adult world.
Sophie
In the short story "Experience," Sophie is a woman who is recovering from a painful breakup. She moves into a borrowed apartment which was once occupied by a woman named Becky. One day, Sophie finds Becky's diaries, which she had forgotten and left behind. As Sophie reads through Becky's diaries, she draws parallels between her life and Becky's life.
