By the time Elias walked back out to the lot, the sun had dipped low, turning the snow-dusted pavement into a sheet of orange glass. Marcus handed over the keys, which felt surprisingly heavy in Elias’s palm.
The December air in Chicago didn’t just bite; it gnawed. Elias tucked his chin into his scarf, squinting against the aggressive festive lighting of the "Auto Village" lot. He wasn't here for the holiday cheer; he was here for the . buying a new car in december
He drove home slow, the dashboard glowing like a localized aurora borealis. The Rattler was gone, but as he pulled into his driveway, the heater still humming perfectly, he realized this was the first time in a decade he wasn't worried about the car starting tomorrow morning. It was the best gift he’d ever bought himself—wrapped in steel and delivered in a frost-breath exhale of relief. ) or focus more on the at the dealership? AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more By the time Elias walked back out to