Somewhere along the way, there stopped being new days.
-- Maya (Pages 1-30)

Importance: The first line of the novel, this line sets the stage for Maya's emotional outlook on life. The reader is immediately introduced to someone who is suffering from ennui, as the static and predictable nature of her life has rendered her bored and unexcited about the possibilities of life.

And then he said other things. Things I didn't care to hear. Things that made me try hard to think of other things until he left and I could get more high and not think about anything.
-- Maya (Pages 1-30)

Importance: The quote clarifies the conflict between Maya and Peter as wife and husband. Maya is turned off by Peter moralizing on her behavior, and instead of confronting him directly, she resorts to drug use as an escape. This underscores a serious flaw in their relationship, with neither knowing how to best communicate with the other...