My thanks to Susannaj4 for her comments on 1st 13 lines of chapter 1. I have included the first 13 lines of the first two chapters, and the first 13 lines of chapter 6, where voice changes from Adam to his wife, Sarah. I invite critiques!

Chapter 1, 1st 13 lines:

We would never have a baby.

Over the last few months, we had both tried to come to terms with this truth. I think I have been able, in these last difficult four years, to accept this little cruelty of nature. It is not that my expectations are low, but my hopes do not rule my thoughts. I have had my share of disappointments, and my responses have varied. Sometimes I fight to find something that will work long after the writing was on the wall. Sometimes I accept the setbacks of life. For the most part, I was happy with the way things were now. Sarah and I loved each other. We were very different people, but in ten years of being together,

Chapter 2, first 13 lines:

Whatever had happened before, it was now very clear that we would never see Miss Rachel Hughes again. I knew that Sarah would never permit it.

I stared at the biometric data splayed across the four walls of our entertainment room, knowing I would never see this again. It was a shame. She was unlike any other woman I had ever met. Were there any women like her in the world?

There was a glow coming from the center of the room. I turned, and there was the image of Rachel. The exquisite image. Rachel in the complete majesty of her nude form.

Section II, Chapter 6, first 13 lines:

Adam was asleep. Dear, sweet Adam. He was so worried about things now. If Rachel had been anyone else, perhaps I would be concerned, too. But Rachel was the most genuine person I had ever met in my life. I had never met anyone that was in any way like her, in fact. Everything inside me was telling me that I could trust her completely. If DHS was looking for her, it had to be a mistake. They must really be looking for Susan Wheeler. I knew in my bones that Rachel would never hurt anyone.

Thanks for the comment and question.

There is dialog, but not as much as there ought to be, probably. I am hoping to get feedback on this, but I will have to find a critiquer interested in taking on a chapter or more before that can happen.

The third chapter I posted is Chapter 6, which begins the second section of the novel. Each section is approximately 100-120 pages, four to six chapters per section. The POV changes from Adam in Section One, to his wife, Sarah, in Section Two.

Pax,