she scrolled. Onto another video, punchier than the last. And again, she scrolled. “Why can’t I stop?”, Sarah thought. “Have I not watched enough? The people in these videos seem to at least be doing something with their lives, I wish I could get out of my head!”. Sarah’s words left her mouth like a bullet, that ricocheted around the room.
“I just feel trapped. Where does their God is good life end and mine start?”. She presses the off button, breathes, looks around and turns her phone on again. This time she had 33 unread messages. A new message from her friend Toni, they had gone to school together but fell out when Toni’s parents moved their family out of London.
Toni: Hey Sarah, I was just thinking about you so I thought I would check in. How are you?
Sarah: Wow Toni, it’s been a long time… How have you been?!
Toni: I asked first haha
Sarah: Fairs loool. Well to be real not that great, I just feel quite overwhelmed. Like life is a race against my mind and right now my mind is WHOOPING ME! I hate doomscrolling.
Toni: TRAGICCCC *crying emoji* Don’t we all girl. Siri play It’s the Hard-Knock Life
Sarah: *laughing emoji*
Toni: But what’s been making you feel overwhelmed?
Sarah: Idk girl. It’s just jarring.
Sarah wants to open up but she feels bad for how their friendship was affected by the move. “She probably doesn’t care”, Sarah thought.
Toni: Is it uni? What’s been going on?
Sarah: BRB
Sarah turns her phone off, looked at the ceiling and prayed for the first time. “God if you’re real, please make her forgive me.” When Sarah turned her phone back on, she had another message from Toni.
Toni: Listen I’m sorry for popping up outta the blue, you just came to mind so I thought to message you. If you don’t want to share I completely get it.
Sarah: I do want to share. I just feel bad for how things ended, I should’ve never pushed you away.
Toni is typing. The three dots disappear. Sarah looked at her phone for what felt like 5 minutes but was really 5 seconds.
Toni: What you did hurt at first…
Sarah: I’m sorry Toni
Toni: Listen girl, it’s okay I forgive you. We all make mistakes, please don’t hold it against yourself. I’m just here to listen
Sarah: Thank you Toni
Sarah: I just feel trapped in my mind all the time. I do the things I don’t really want to do and then when I actually have stuff to do, I don’t end up doing it!
Toni: Loool you sound like Paul
Sarah: Who Paul??? You’re new boyfriend? *laughing emoji*
Sarah’s tense shoulders relaxed, whilst simultaneously forgetting all about her prayer.
Toni: LOOOOOL, you funny gyal. No. Paul is a man who had this encounter with Jesus on his way to another city. He used to be a Christian hater and then God changed his heart. Later on he began writing letters to encourage other people.
Sarah: Ermmm, when did YOU start reading the Bible. Are you a nun now?
Toni: No. I started for looking for God and he found me.
Sarah: What does that mean?
Toni: Girl I’m so sorry but I’ve got to go. My mum’s telling me to go to bed.
Sarah: Some things never change *laughing emoji*
Toni: Before I go, this overwhelmed thing. Does it feel like your hamster in a cage?
Sarah: EXACTLY THAT. Like what am I supposed to be doing with my life. Doomscrolling can’t be it right?? I wish my mind could just enter this divine state of rest. Man I’ve been watching too many Christian videos!
Toni: Well, what do you think about rest?
Sarah: Idk, I always feel exhausted. But it’s like my mind is tired, just feels heavy from all the thinking. Maybe I should check my iron levels.
Toni: Hmmm. Okay I really have to go but when I first messaged, I felt like I was supposed to share this with you. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
Sarah: I know Matthew, I think. Is that something he said?
Toni: No Jesus did. Mum is about to take my phone! Try watching the Chosen, google it, you’ll find it
Sarah: Okay, goodnight! x
Toni: Night x
(Ran out of characters!!)
This story was submitted as part of the King’s Study Phase of the Gen Z Role Models Project. Added April 2026.
“she scrolled. Onto another video, punchier than the last” (S188) © 2026 by The Gen Z Role Models Project is licensed under CC BY 4.0
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