N.F.L Imagines

open when... (justin fields)

*justin's pov*

it has been an hour since my alarm woke me up, yet here i was still on my bed. i had been on my back staring at the ceiling since i woke up. all that was keeping me company was the dog snoring lightly next to me.

after yesterdays loss to cleveland, i was feeling pretty apathetic. i'm not gonna lie, i felt like i had let my team down. that was our chance to make it to the playoffs. i really believed we could, if only we won out the rest of our games, but we didn't.

games like this don't normally affect me as much as it is now, maybe it's because of the gloomy weather or the fact we almost had that win, but i wasn't feeling my best right now. normally i take the emotions from the game and i'm able to use that as motivation to perform better in the facility and at practice. today just felt different though, kinda off.

deciding to finally get up, i walked over to the bathroom and let the warm water run over my body for 30 minutes.

after eating breakfast, i finally realized i couldn't spend this whole day doing nothing, so i walked over to my closet.

this closet has not been organized since i moved it 3.5 years ago. today was gonna be the day that i finally organized it.

taking a deep breath, i started a playlist and got to work.

this was no ordinary closet, it could probably fit a couch in it if i tried, so it's not surprise it held a bunch of things i forgot even existed.

the jacket i lost 6 months ago? found it.

a box of christmas decorations i didn't bother to look for? found it.

my backpack from college, stained with grass? found it.

one thing i found though made my heart drop.

i didn't remember it at first, but once i figured out what it was, i really wish i hadn't.

it was a box. a box from my ex girlfriend she gave me for christmas all the way back when we dated in college. it was full of endearing letters she wrote for me to open.

i opened the box and a wave of memories came by when i sorted through the envelopes.

they all had the same large font on the front, 'open this when...'
there was one that said 'open this when you get drafted', the next one i pulled out said 'open this when you can't sleep', another said 'open this on our anniversary'.

we never did get to that anniversary.

in fact i forgot all about these letters, that really hit me with a wave of guilt as i remembered when she gave them to me.

"merry christmas, baby" i heard when i opened up my apartment door to see my girlfriend standing there with a beautifully wrapped gift in her hand.
"aww hey, but i thought you we were gonna go down to georgia to be with my family this christmas. after we visit your parents." i confusedly took the gift and led her inside.
"i know, but i got kind of nervous thinking about your whole family there. you have a really big family, j. and i wanted it to just be us two when you open this. i still have all the presents for your family in my car though don't worry about that." she took my hand and walked over to sit on the couch.
"i get that, let me grab your gift too then." i ran over to my nightstand to pull out her gift. "its not wrapped, i'm sorry, but you know i suck at that."
"it's fine, whatever it is, it'll be perfect because it's from you." she grabbed my hand and squeezed it, gently. "do you want to go first?" she asked.
"yes please. to be honest i was very afraid of doing this in front of my family too." i pulled the ring box out from behind my back and opened it up. her eyes grew wide and tearful as she looked back up at me. "we've been together for a long time, y/n/n. it's felt like forever, and i want to make it forever. so y/n y/l/n will you accept my promise ring? to show everyone else we belong together, forever." i awaited her response as a tear rolled down her cheek. "i'm sorry, did i make you cry? i'm really-"