Alex gave up on his dream of the NFL after he was arrested.

He wasn't able to continue playing college football after his sentence so he gave up and, once he was released, figured it was all a lost cause. He started running his mother's restaurant while coaching a local team on the side, still able to enjoy the thrill of the game. So imagine his surprise when he went to check his mailbox and pulled out a letter sent all the way from Philadelphia.
    "Philly, huh?" He asked himself, stepping into his house and closing the door. The retired Wide Receiver tore the letter open and pulled it out of the envelope, his red eyes scanning the text. He blinked and reread over one of the lines as his hands tightened on the paper, a wide smile exploding across his tanned face.

There was no way he was reading this correctly but with each reread, the words never changed. Finally, things felt like they were going his way even six years later. But how was his family going to take the news?

~~~

    "How nice of you to stop by!" Night smiled when she opened the door, hugging her brother as he walked inside. "I was surprised when you called, is everything okay?"
    "Oh, yeah, everything's fine. What, I can't visit my favorite little sister?" Alex asked, raising an eyebrow. Night punched his shoulder and closed the door, laughing.
    "I'm your only little sister, hermano."
    "And that's why you're my favorite." The older sibling grinned, looking over when he heard footsteps. "Ah, mi hijo! How are you?"

Night's son had come down the stairs upon hearing the new voice, smiling when he realized it was his uncle.
    "I'm doing good...! Where have you been, I feel like I haven't seen you in forever..." Jin said as they shared a hug, Alex ruffling his messy black hair playfully.
    "Sorry kiddo, I had to go on a little trip. But hey, I got you something!" He said, grabbing the bag he brought in with him and motioning to the kitchen. "And I even got something for the little tike in your belly."
    "That's dangerous." Night joked, flicking on the dining room light as her and Jin sat at the table. The Mexican sat the bag on the table in front of his nephew as he pulled out his phone, raising even more suspicion as Night eyed him.
    "Alright, open it."

Jin looked over at his mama who motioned him forward, the teen taking in a breath and opening the bag. Green eyes glossed over in confusion as he pulled out a midnight green jersey with 'Eagles' on it, the article being his size but he being unaware of what it was for. Night had straightened in her seat all of a sudden when she noticed the jersey, eyebrows furrowing as she too looked into the bag.
    "Uncle Alex, what's the jersey for...?" Jin asked as he looked up, seeing his uncle smiling brightly at him.
    "Look at the back, mi hijo." Was the only hint he was given, the teenager, turning it in his hands to see the back. His uncle's last name, making Jin raise an eyebrow in further confusion. Night pulled out a little onesie and read the front, tears filling her eyes as she covered her mouth.
    "Alex, you're lying." She sniffled, showing her son when he looked confused. Jin read the onesie and suddenly looked up, everything finally clicking. What does the onesie say?

My uncle is an NFL star.

Alex smiled as he turned his phone off, walking over and hugging his family tightly.
    "It finally happened, baby sis. I'm finally getting my chance to be a professional football player." The amount of joy in his voice was immeasurable, Night crying into his shoulder. She was happy for him, of course, but that also meant he would be leaving Beigoma. And she wasn't ready for that yet.
    "I'm so happy for you...! That's so cool, but..." The news finally dawned on Jin, pulling away and looking at the jersey he was gifted. "You have to move, don't you...?"
    "Well, yeah. I'll have to live around Philly in order to practice and be there for my team. It'll be a sacrifice I have to take in order to be signed on to the team..." Alex explained solemnly, pulling away from his sister and cupping her cheek. "Cheer up, baby sis! My dream is finally becoming reality."
    "A-and I'm happy for you, but... I feel like I'm losing you all over again..." Night sniffed, brushing her tears away.
    "This will be nothing like before. I'll be able to visit on my days off and I'll be able to bring mi familia out to home games! You've always wanted to go to an NFL game."

The young mother laughed sadly and nodded, kissing her son's head gently.
    "He's not wrong. It's been a small dream of ours since we were little..." She smiled, holding her stomach gently. "You better, I'm holding you to it."
    "You know I keep my promises."
    "Yeah, you're right."

~~~

Jin pulled his jersey over his head and fixed his hair, taking a look in the mirror. Today was the day he would see his first NFL game live, He and his family having driven over the day before to Pennsylvania in order to relax the night before. Especially Night as she was still growing a baby inside her belly.
    "Are you ready to go, baby ghost?" His mother asked with a smile, walking over and fixing his hair gently.
    "Yeah...! I'm so excited for this game...!" The teenager was ecstatic, more than thrilled to watch his uncle play.
    "I can tell. Come on, we're getting ready to leave." She told him, slipping her shoes on as Hartz threw on his coat. Alex had kept his promise on bringing the family out to Philadelphia for a game, making sure to get them good seats so they could get the full experience of an NFL game. The small family made sure they had everything and walked from their hotel room, making their way down and to their car.

Jin sat patiently in the backseat with music blasting in his headphones as they navigated through Philly traffic on game day, looking out the window in excitement. Night glanced at him and smiled, nudging her husband.
    "Look at our son..." She giggled, the young father glancing into the rearview. He chuckled, glancing at his wife with a smile.
    "I haven't seen him this excited since you told him you were pregnant..."
    "Well, he and Alex bonded over football so I'm not that surprised. Any opportunity he had, he wore that jersey to school..."
    "This was a good idea..."
    "Yeah, my brother has those every now and then."

Making it to the stadium and struggling to find a parking spot, the family was finally ready to make it inside. Night held tightly to her boys' hands as they walked, Jin humming happily as security checked and okayed their tickets. The energy in the stadium was electric for the pregame, green eyes sparkling as the teen took pictures.
    "What do you think, kiddo?" Hartz asked, ruffling his hair as they walked to their seats.
    "I'm so excited...! These seats are insane...!" Jin smiled, gripping his jersey. He scanned the field where the team was, seeing his uncle's number as his smile widened. "I see him, mama...!"
    "Where, baby?" Night asked, squinting and scanning. She found him and smiled, taking a seat with a breath.

Alex looked like he was in his element and it made the young woman smile, having not seen him this happy in a long time. He was finally doing what he loved again...
    "Nightlight, are you okay? You look so sad..." Hartz asked, worry knit into his feature as he took a seat next to his wife. Night looked over and spared a gentle smile, kissing his cheek.
    "I'm fine, just reliving some memories." She told him, taking his hand gently. Her husband smiled back and kissed her head, the two watching Jin react to being in such a large place for the first time.
    "Uncle Alex...!" He called out, waving as the team jogged over their way. Night watched as her brother took off his helmet, coming over to greet his family with a smile.
    "Hola, mi familia! How was the drive over?" He asked, gripping the facemask of his helmet in his fingers.
    "Long and tiring." Night groaned, squeezing her husband's hand. "But we made it. Jin has been talking nonstop about this game and it's the cutest thing ever."

Jin felt his pale cheeks ignite as he looked away, gripping his jersey in his hands. Alex chuckled as he stepped forward, smiling at his nephew.
    "It's good to see, mi hijo. I miss watching football with you."
    "I do too... But now I get to watch you play for the NFL...! Do you know how cool that is...?"
    "The coolest I bet." Alex looked at the clock and took in a breath, waving to his family as he stepped back. "Game's gonna start so I have to head back. Wish me luck!"
    "Good luck!"
    "Bring home a W...!"
    "You got this, brother!" Everyone told him, Night blowing him a kiss. Alex waved and ran back to his team, taking in a deep breath.

Look out Detroit, Philly is coming for you.

NightBear15 signing off...