Answer:
Francis Phelan is the protagonist. He feels guilt and runs away from his life and family because he dropped his son Gerald when he was 13 days old
Helen is Francis's wife and she dies at the end of the novel because she is very sick
Gerald is Francis's son, dies when he is 13 years old
Rudy is Francis's best friend. He dies at the end when a group of people beats Rudy up. He goes to the hospital and then passes away