emily (16)
Ballerina. Deep Christian faith. Waitress job to help pay for her mother's care. Sophomore in high school.
Although Emily suffers from epileptic seizures she is very strong and has been caring for her dying mother since she was fourteen. Has pent-up anger and hatred toward her sister for running away from home, forcing her to give up on her ballet dreams.
The hatred explodes from her when she sees her sister again, especially since her sister must move back into the family home as a condition of their mother's will. Her journey takes her from hatred to forgiveness---and to finally love the sister she has despised for years.
riley (22)
Talented musician. Gets into bad relationships to get ahead. Bartender/Waitress. Lives in a Nashville motel.
Riley runs away from home at sixteen after the death of her father. She blames her mother for her dad's death and has not had contact with her mom or sister for six years.
When she learns her mother is dying of cancer, she returns home. Unfortunately, she arrives too late. She now needs to care for her younger sister, which means giving up on her music ambitions. Her journey changes her from self-centered and destructive to selfless and kind---and finally sacrifice her own dreams to help her sister reach for hers.