“Fear that if they don’t buy now, majically—mystically—the shoes won’t be there tomorrow.”

“They’re programmed with fear. Fear that if they don’t buy now, majically—mystically—the shoes won’t be there tomorrow. I mean, I know people who obsess over credit scores more than their own mental health. College grads can’t even land decent jobs—not because they aren’t capable, but because they missed a payment on a student loan five years ago.” He chuckled dryly, adjusting his posture. “It’s like we built a religion out of debt and slapped a Visa logo on the altar.” Tuck leaned back, almost casually, like a professor mid-lecture.