Marcus spent the next morning scrolling, his heart sinking with every "Credit Check Required" banner he saw. His credit score had taken a hit during the layoffs last year, and the big dealerships in Montgomery wouldn't even give him a second look. That’s when he saw the sign near the edge of town:

As Marcus drove back toward downtown Troy, passing the square and the university, the weight in his chest finally loosened. He wasn't just driving a truck; he was driving back to work, back to a routine, and back to a life that felt like it was finally moving forward again.

"I carry the note myself," Miller said, tossing a set of keys to a sturdy, silver pickup truck. "You pay me, you keep the truck. Simple as that."