Helen "Hel" Nash

Helen Nash is one of the novel's two main characters. She is a UDP (Universally Displaced Person) who passed through the Gate from an alternate universe version of New York City that is slightly different from the "real" world. In her universe, Hel was an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor). She was divorced and had a son named Jonas who lived in California with his father. She notes that most mothers who were chosen by the lottery to pass through the Gate opted to stay behind with their children instead, despite the fact that this would almost certainly lead to their deaths. Consequently, Hel feels tremendous guilt and grief, feelings that she buries and refuses to address. Hel's boyfriend Vikram tries to get her to talk about her loss so they can have a closer bond, but she consistently refuses. Hel is stubborn, extremely independent...