Dr. Julia Cates is the novel’s protagonist. She is a dynamic and round character. A kind-hearted, sensitive person, Julia is a child psychiatrist who specializes in helping children who have been through trauma. Despite Julia’s skill in helping children, she feels guilty because her client, Amber, killed a group of teenagers before dying by suicide. Although the judge absolves her, Julia still feels responsible. However, Julia begins to heal from her guilt when she meets Alice and channels her pain toward helping a child in need.

Julia’s main internal conflict stems from her desire to protect Alice. Her patience allows Alice to come out of her shell because she does not put any external pressure on her. Julia’s main goal is guiding Alice toward recovery, and this is freeing for Alice because she does not attach stipulations for how her recovery should look. Julia’s tenderness toward Alice and other traumatized children stems from her own childhood with a cruel father. Even though Julia runs away from Rain Valley because of her bad memories, her return to her hometown allows her to reconnect with her sister and heal their relationship. Although Julia tends to self-isolate, she learns that she needs community to fully heal.