The teacher tells us to put our phones away, but I can’t. I can’t put my phone away and lose precious seconds. I have to finish my Shein challenge. I only need five more people – FIVE MORE! I haven’t slept for days, I haven’t eaten or gone to the bathroom, and now my teacher wants me to put my phone away. Are they crazy? I am so close to getting my free $150 on Shein – nothing can stop me now.  

I send what has to be my 53rd text, begging this person I haven’t talked to in 14 years to do a Shein link that isn’t a scam but really looks like a scam, but I swear is not a scam. I switch back over to my Shein app and see that one more person did it for me! I click “Spin the Wheel” and watch as one more magical .01 is added to my count. Just four more people. 

I refresh and refresh and refresh my app, hoping, praying that another person will have done it. Nothing pops up. I consider raising my hand and asking my teacher to do it for me. I’ve already asked all the other students in my class. I decide against it – for now at least.  

Suddenly, an idea pops into my head. My great great grandmother! I mean, she is 97 years old, in a nursing home, and hasn’t been able to lift her phone for about 4 years, but I’m sure one of the nurses will see the notification and do it for me. After sending it to her, I check my Shein app again. Another person! I spin the wheel again and smile as a new breath of life fills my body when the .01 is added.  

But then, just as I think of another person to send it to, I see the words below the wheel: To get your last spin, you must invite 3 new users or 15 existing users. 

And then everything went black.