This is the first chapter of an 84k-word Adult Contemporary Upmarket Women’s Fiction novel. I've already done multiple drafts and had multiple rounds of beta readers. I want to start sending out my query to agents this month, so I'm posting here as a final chance to get as much feedback on the first chapter as possible. At this point I won't change the overall plot or writing style, but anything else is fair game for me to adjust based on your critiques. Thank you in advance!

Content warning: slurs.

[Click here for the story](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RSEbt9yrV6FGEmePJzs-p4I2II3M1fXFmKM-R59oEgU/edit?usp=sharing)

My critiques:

[\[1958\] Carbon And Thorns](https://www.reddit.com/r/DestructiveReaders/comments/1lthev1/comment/n1qwc2v/)

[\[900\] Girl in Car](https://www.reddit.com/r/DestructiveReaders/comments/1ltdy5k/comment/n1q5daa/)

[\[603\] Lunar's Doorstep](https://www.reddit.com/r/DestructiveReaders/comments/1ltbhsn/comment/n1pxmz5/)

[\[2234\] smile for the gram](https://www.reddit.com/r/DestructiveReaders/comments/1lt8m4h/comment/n1oy22s/)

[\[1165\] PEARL OF THE ORIENT - Chapter III](https://www.reddit.com/r/DestructiveReaders/comments/1lsnprm/comment/n1ke4br/)

[\[1166\] Can someone look at this thing?](https://www.reddit.com/r/DestructiveReaders/comments/1lsku6o/comment/n1jopxz/)

[2995] Four Halves Make Two Pairs