Torstein Horgmo Imagines

Retire

I walk into Torstein’s room to find him eating pizza and watching TV, which is exactly what he was doing this morning when I left.

“Hey, babe.”  Torstein greets me with a mouth full of pizza. 

“You’re still in bed?”  I question.  He gives me a dirty look.

“There’s a lot of good stuff on TV today.  Don’t judge me.”  Torstein says in his defense.  I lie down next to him on the bed.  “Pizza?”

“Yes please.”  I reply as Torstein hands me a slice.  “So what’s up with you?  It’s not like you to sit still for long periods of time.”

“I just don’t know what to do anymore.”  Torstein says as he stares at the TV.

“You don’t know what to do about what?”  I question further.

“Snowboarding.  I’m not where I was before.  I used to be one of the best, but now there’s all these kids coming out of nowhere and they’re amazing.  It sucks.”  Torstein admits to me. “I know it seems stupid, but I’m not winning like I once was.  I still do fine, but I want to do better than fine.”

“Aww, babe.”  I say as I tuck myself under Torstein’s arm and snuggle up to him.  “You’re still one of the top boarders.  And I’m not just saying that because I’m in love with you.  You’re seriously one of the greatest riders today.”  I tell Torstein.  He kisses the top of my head.

“I love you.”  He says, but he still sounds sad.  “Maybe I should just retire from snowboarding, only competitively.  I’ll still snowboard and do edits and stuff.” 

“Okay. I’m going to be supportive of whatever decision you make, but I’m also going to tell you what my opinion is.”  I say calmly.

“I’d expect nothing less from you.”  Torstein says with a laugh as he pulls me closer to him.

“Alright.  If retiring from contests is what you truly want, then do it.  Do what feels right.  But if you’re retiring because you don’t think you’re the best anymore, then that’s just stupid.  You’re only 27.  You still have many more years of ass kicking to do and it would be a shame to see you quit so young.  But like I said, I’ll support you either way.”  I tell Torstein.  He hesitates before speaking.

“I know I’m not old or anything, but I’m not as good as I was.  I’ve been snowboarding for a long time and my body isn’t what it once was.  I’ve broken so many bones that I can’t keep count.  I can’t keep up with these 15 year old superstars anymore.”  Torstein explains to me as begins to play with my hair.

“I think you need to decide why you want to retire.  Do you want to retire because you’re afraid of losing?  Or do you want to retire because you’re truly done?”  I ask Torstein. 

“I don’t know! I mean I feel like I should be done.  I have a great life and I had a great run.  I have an amazing girlfriend and I have an amazing career, so why shouldn’t I just quit while I’m ahead?”  Torstein tells me.  “But at the same time, I’m just scared.  I don’t want to become a joke.  I don’t want to be that guy who doesn’t know when to quit.  Please tell me what I should do.”

“I don’t think you should quit.  I don’t think you’re done yet.  I think you’ll miss it like crazy because you’re an insanely competitive person.  I think you love competing and the fear of losing is keeping you down.  But win or lose, I’ll be standing at the bottom of the slope cheering you on.”  I say.  Torstein stops to think about what I said.  “But again, that’s just my opinion.”   

“You’re right.  You’re always right.  I don’t know why I even question you.”  Torstein says sweetly as he kisses the top of my head again.  “I’m not done with snowboarding yet.  But you have to promise me one thing, y/n.”

“What’s that?”  I ask as I look up at Torstein.

“You have to promise me that when I’m ancient and broken and losing every contest, you’ll still love me.”  Torstein says with a smirk.

“I promise.”  I reply as I reach up to kiss him.