LIFE – Episode 17: “New Roots”

Absolutely. Here's the next emotional and fresh chapter in the Life series, following the powerful legacy of Noah Collins—now focusing on his daughter, Sophia.

LIFE – Episode 17: “New Roots”

🎬 Setting:

One year after Noah’s passing

Sophia is now 11 years old

Aaliyah, now a widow, is determined to give Sophia a fresh start—and heal her crushed heart.

🛫 SCENE 1: LEAVING LOS ANGELES

Inside their luxurious mansion in Beverly Hills, Sophia sat quietly in her late father’s favorite chair, hugging his old hoodie.

Aaliyah walked in, gently touching her shoulder.

Aaliyah: “Baby… we’re going on a trip. Just you and me.”

They packed two large suitcases. Sophia took:

Her dad’s diary

A photo of their family

Her stuffed toy “Rocket,” a gift from Noah

At the airport, private jet ready, Aaliyah whispered:

Aaliyah: “We’re going to Nigeria… Daddy’s second home.”

🌍 SCENE 2: ARRIVAL IN NIGERIA

📍Lagos, Nigeria

They landed in Murtala Muhammed International Airport, and were driven in a private black SUV to their new home in Lekki Phase 1—a beautiful, secured neighborhood in Lagos.

🏡 The New Home:

5-bedroom luxury duplex

Marble floors, large garden

Glass rooftop balcony

Framed photos of Noah in the living room

A library filled with his diaries, books, sketches

Sophia walked into her new room and gasped.

Pink walls with LED stars. A walk-in closet. A smart bed with a glowing headboard.

🏫 SCENE 3: NEW SCHOOL

School Name: FutureGlow International Academy

📍Location: Lekki, Lagos

Aaliyah met with the school registrar and principal, Mr. Onome.

Registration Process:

Filled out Sophia’s bio data

Uploaded her U.S. birth certificate

Added Noah’s name as “Late Father” in the record

Paid tuition via Zenith Tech’s education trust

Tuition & Uniform Fees: ₦1,200,000 ($880)

Books & School Tablet: ₦400,000 ($290)

Principal: “Your daughter is brilliant. She’ll thrive here.”

👗 SCENE 4: SHOPPING FOR SOPHIA

📍Palms Shopping Mall, Lekki

Sophia picked her new look—blending tech-style with Nigerian chic.

🛍️ Shopping List:

Smartwatch: Apple Watch SE – ₦280,000 ($205)

iPhone 14 (Purple): ₦870,000 ($640)

6 designer outfits: ₦450,000 ($330)

3 pairs of sneakers (Nike, Converse, Zara): ₦250,000 ($180)

New backpack: ₦45,000 ($33)

💸 Total Spent: ₦1.9 million (≈ $1,400)

She smiled for the first time in months.

💌 SCENE 5: SOPHIA’S NOTE TO DAD

That night, on her new iPad, Sophia wrote:

"Dear Daddy, I miss you. But I feel you in my heart every day. I’m starting fresh now. I’ll build something like you did. I’ll dream again. I love you forever — Sophia Collins."

🎬 END OF EPISODE

Would you like Episode 18 to follow Sophia’s first day at school, her making new friends, or maybe her discovering her own hidden talent?

Let’s keep her story going beautifully.

Thanks for the story direction! Let's continue the Life series with Episode 18, focusing on Sophia’s first day at her Nigerian school—showing her morning routine, her feelings, and the real Nigerian school experience (strict teachers, funny classmates, tough rules). We'll keep it realistic, respectful, and story-driven while capturing that typical Naija secondary school vibe.

LIFE – Episode 18: “First Day, New Rules”

📍 Setting:

Lekki, Lagos

School: FutureGlow International Academy

Sophia is now in Grade 7 (JSS1)

🌅 SCENE 1: MORNING IN NAIJA

⏰ Time: 5:45 AM

Sophia’s alarm beeped on her Apple Watch. She rolled over sleepily, still adjusting to the Nigerian timezone and the loud rooster outside their compound.

Aaliyah opened her room door.

Aaliyah: “Sophia, wake up. You don’t want to be late on your first day.”

Sophia yawned, rubbed her eyes, and slowly got out of bed.

🛁 SCENE 2: GETTING READY

In her private bathroom, she started her routine:

Brushed teeth with a pink Oral-B toothbrush

Washed her face with her dad’s old face towel (she kept it as memory)

Took a quick shower (the water pressure in Nigeria hit different, lol)

Used deodorant and lotion (to fight Lagos heat 😅)

Wore her white bra and underwear, then slid into her school uniform:

White short-sleeve shirt

Green skirt

White socks and black shoes

Badge pinned on the left chest

She packed her bag with:

School tablet

Math set

Notebooks

Lunch box

She checked the mirror one last time, tied her hair into a low bun, and put on lip balm.

Sophia (to herself): “You got this.”

🚗 SCENE 3: THE SCHOOL RIDE

By 6:45 AM, the family driver, Uncle Dayo, pulled up in a black Lexus Jeep.

Aaliyah: “Sophia, remember—speak respectfully, listen well, and be yourself.”

Sophia nodded nervously and got into the car. On the way, she saw street hawkers, danfo buses, and students rushing on foot.

She whispered:

Sophia: “Nigeria is really different from L.A.”

🏫 SCENE 4: FIRST IMPRESSIONS AT SCHOOL

They arrived at FutureGlow International Academy.

A loud bell rang at the gate—7:30 AM sharp. Students lined up. The prefects were already shouting:

“Tuck in your shirt! Pull your socks! Drop your phone now!”

Sophia was shocked.

She was checked at the gate:

No makeup

No jewelry

Phone seized for the day 😬

Skirt measured to make sure it wasn’t “too short”

A girl whispered to her:

Girl: “You’re new abi? Welcome o. Just don’t fall hand.”

🧹 SCENE 5: MORNING ASSEMBLY (REAL NAIJA STYLE)

On the assembly ground:

National anthem

Pledge

Bible reading

Morning “discipline talk” from the VP 😅

VP: “No chewing gum. No boyfriend. No eyelashes. No loud talking. Respect your teachers!”

Sophia stood quietly, soaking it all in. Everything felt strict—but strangely, it also felt structured.

📚 SCENE 6: IN CLASS

Sophia walked into her new classroom: Grade 7B.

A chalkboard with motivational quotes

Fans spinning loudly

Some students already copying notes

Others playing “pen game” or gist-ing

She met her seatmate: a funny girl named Zainab.

Zainab: “Don’t mind all their shakara. You’ll love it here… sometimes.”

They laughed.

📝 SCENE 7: FIRST PERIOD – MATHS

The teacher, Mr. Kolade, walked in with cane in hand.

“Good morning class.”

Students (together): “Good morning sir, God bless you sir, thank you sir!”

Sophia tried not to giggle. It was so different from her school in the U.S.

She tried to answer a question and got it wrong.

Mr. Kolade: “You mean in America you don’t know BODMAS?”

The whole class laughed.

Sophia turned red but smiled. She was slowly blending in.

🛑 SCENE 8: THE “NAIJA” EXPERIENCE

At break time:

Jollof rice and meatpie at the canteen

Gossip under the mango tree

Random shouts of “Senior dey come!” (as seniors bullied juniors)

Noise from the classroom next door as one boy was punished for not doing homework 😬

Sophia was learning fast.

🌇 SCENE 9: BACK HOME

She got home at 4:30 PM, tired but smiling.

Aaliyah: “How was it?”

Sophia: “Different… but kind of cool.”

That night, she wrote in her diary:

“Dear Dad, Nigeria is wild, but I think you would have laughed at my first day. I’ll be just fine. I promise.”

📌 End of Episode 18

Would you like the next episode to focus on Sophia making her first best friend, discovering a special school club, or maybe uncovering a hidden talent like art, music, or coding?

Let’s keep building her journey 💫

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