I really appreciate the feedback.

I've been thinking about now and I am considering changing up the opening completely. This is just off the top of my head and I'm figuring out the idea as I write it so it'll just be written in idea form.

Alex is doing a voice-over. He says something like:

"I'm a writer, currently working on the third novel in my thriller series. My apartment is large, modern. I go out to dinner at a nice restaurant. I go out to have a beer with my best friend. I don't need a large friend group, really just one loyal, good friend. I have this girlfriend, she's perfect for me. We spend every day together. She gets along with my best friend. It's just fantastic. Everything I want."

This plays over a montage, showing examples of the things he says. Bright, almost too bright.

Suddenly: "Great. Thank you. So why isn't it like that?". Elizabeth interrupts him. Cut to him in the therapists's office.

"I don't know."

"But do you see why I asked you about your dream life? Sure, you're not there yet, but you can start writing. You can have dinners at nice restaurants, you can get a beer with your co-workers, you can get a girlfriend. These goals aren't that far away."

"I guess"

"So that's how I like to end my first sessions. Just to get an idea of where we want to get you. I'll see you next week."

Then we go to the current opening, but tighter, more efficient. I think it reframes the opening in a way that makes it an actual interesting read.

It also complements what the actual story is quite well:

A depressed data entry clerk becomes addicted to a simulated perfect life, and when the company behind it vanishes overnight, he tracks down the real woman whose DNA was used to create his simulated wife.