Flora Mancini

Flora was raised by her single mother in the Italian-American enclave of Bay Ridge Brooklyn, and is the 48-year old protagonist who discovers that her 20-year marriage has been based on deception and betrayal of her husband and oldest friend. She dropped out of Hunter College after two years to work in the document processing center of a big law firm at night while auditioning for musical theater and pursuing her dream of becoming a Broadway star. She is literally haunted by the specter of her late mother's harsh judgement, and growing up amid her mother's denial and regrets about her own failed Broadway career, Flora had her own ambitions undermined.

As a result of her upbringing, her character is defined by her doubtfulness and suspiciousness, as well as for a performative aspect of her personality that does not know when to stop pretending. She mostly gave...