Phillipe

Phillipe is the character who guides the reader through the central experience of the narrative. He is neither expansive nor naturally charismatic; he thinks carefully before acting and feels intensely what he rarely manages to express. From an early age, he learns to deal with frustrations that force him to mature ahead of time, developing a sharp awareness of human flaws — including his own. His path is marked by inner conflicts, especially in the way he responds to abandonment, rejection, and situations of exposure. While he demonstrates firmness at certain moments, he also carries insecurities that shape his choices and the way he relates to others. Phillipe grows not through grand gestures, but through the constant reassessment of his attitudes and his ability to acknowledge mistakes. He does not seek prominence; he seeks understanding — of himself, of others, and of what it means to remain loyal when everything seems to demand distance.

Leonidas

Leonidas occupies a decisive place in the emotional development of the story. His presence does not impose itself through grand gestures, but through the consistency with which he stands by what he believes. The disability that accompanies him is not presented as a central fragility, but as a concrete part of his experience in the world, shaping how he is perceived and, above all, how he chooses to position himself. Leonidas develops autonomy through the daily confrontation of external limitations and diminished expectations projected onto him by others. He refuses to be treated as a symbol of triumph or an object of pity; he demands respect in proportion to his dignity. His emotional maturity and sense of responsibility reveal someone who has learned to face adversity without allowing it to define his worth. His strength lies in the clarity with which he recognizes his circumstances and, even so, chooses to move forward.

Denner

Denner is a character marked by instability and contradiction. His often defensive posture conceals a history of rejection and exposure that has shaped the way he reacts to the world. He does not occupy the role of a passive victim, yet he cannot be understood without acknowledging the pressures he has endured, especially within the school environment. The bullying left marks that surface in harsh attitudes, abrupt withdrawal, and a clear difficulty in trusting others. At the same time, he contributes to his own conflicts by adopting behaviors that reinforce the isolation that wounds him so deeply. His relationship with his mother intensifies this tension, revealing a home environment defined by demands and misunderstanding. Denner lives in internal conflict, divided between the need to protect himself and the desire to be recognized beyond the labels imposed upon him.

Ulisses

Ulisses is Phillipe’s guardian and plays a decisive role in his development. His presence combines authority and care, establishing a stable reference in the protagonist’s life. He does not impose himself through excessive rigidity, but through coherence and responsibility, assuming the commitment to guide without suffocating. He observes attentively, intervening when necessary and offering direction in moments of doubt or conflict. He prefers dialogue to imposition, though he knows how to set clear boundaries. As a guardian, he faces the challenge of balancing protection and autonomy, understanding that growth requires allowing the other to face consequences. His actions demonstrate that care is expressed through constancy, responsibility, and the willingness to remain when stepping away would be easier.

André

André is marked by introspection and by a visible process of personal transformation, accentuated when he has his hair cut — as though assuming a renewed stance toward himself. A devoted soccer player, he finds in the sport a legitimate form of expression and enthusiasm. A careful observer, he often steps in to prevent harm, intervening thoughtfully when he senses that something may spiral out of control. His sensitivity allows him to perceive what others conceal, offering support without intruding. Though he faces personal challenges, he safeguards his privacy and avoids turning his struggles into spectacle. He is seen as reliable and approachable, valued precisely because he helps others grow — supporting without imposing and remaining present when his presence matters.

Aroldo

Aroldo is one of the most difficult characters in the narrative. An aggressive and reactive adolescent, he carries a constant dissatisfaction that manifests in confrontations and impulsive behavior. His conduct is shaped by his father’s absence after the divorce and by the frustration of failing to advance in soccer — a space in which he had placed hopes of recognition. This accumulation of losses fuels a sense of inadequacy that he converts into hostility. He assumes an antagonistic role not out of deliberate cruelty, but from an inability to understand his own pain and the world around him. His difficulty in dealing with limits distances him from the very people whose acceptance he desires. Throughout his journey, he is confronted with the realization that belonging requires a shift in attitude and accountability for his own choices.

Bartolomeu

Bartolomeu is Rachel’s partner and represents an oppressive presence within the family environment. His behavior is marked by violence, cynicism, and manipulation, exercised consistently. He sustains a posture of dominance that allows no questioning, using emotional control to keep Rachel and Leonidas under continuous pressure. He alternates rigidity and apparent normality as a destabilizing strategy, reinforcing insecurity within the home. His need for power reveals an insecurity he never acknowledges; it hardens into authoritarianism. The relationship he establishes with Rachel is defined by tension and submission, while with Leonidas it assumes even harsher contours. Bartolomeu embodies the oppressive control that corrodes bonds and undermines any possibility of healthy coexistence.