The sun had finally broken through the clouds, casting a warm glow over the hospital parking lot. The storm that had hovered over them all morning seemed to have passed, leaving behind a sense of calm that Joelle desperately needed. Her shoulders still felt heavy with the worry for Malachi, but Jey's words from earlier had stayed with her, offering a sense of reassurance she hadn't realized she needed.

Jey had noticed how quiet she was after their conversation, and he could tell that Joelle was still processing everything. He wanted to do something for her, something that would take her mind off the uncertainty that loomed over the hospital room.

"Hey, how about we go grab some lunch?" Jey suggested with a warm smile, standing in the doorway of the hospital room. "Just you and me. A little break from the stress. We'll keep it low-key."

Joelle looked up at him, her eyes slightly red from the tears she had shed earlier. She hesitated for a moment, glancing back at her mom and Malachi, but then nodded. She didn't realize just how much she needed a change of scenery until now. "Yeah. I could use that."

Jey held out his hand, offering it to her with a playful smile. "Come on then, let's get out of here for a bit."

Joelle took his hand, and they made their way down the long hospital corridor. The air felt different outside-fresher, lighter-and for a moment, Joelle allowed herself to breathe a little easier. Jey led her to his car, opening the passenger door for her before sliding into the driver's seat.

"Where are we going?" Joelle asked, her voice still quiet but tinged with curiosity.

Jey grinned. "I thought we could go to that diner down the road. You know, the one with the best pancakes in the world. They make the fluffiest ones."

Joelle raised an eyebrow. "Fluffiest pancakes, huh?"

"Trust me," Jey replied with a wink. "You'll see."

The ride to the diner was peaceful. Joelle looked out the window, watching the scenery go by, feeling the weight in her chest slowly lift with each passing mile. Jey kept the conversation light, chatting about random things-his latest workout, a funny story about one of his brothers-but always careful not to press her too much. He could tell she still had a lot on her mind.

Once they arrived, they walked into the cozy diner, the smell of fresh coffee and sizzling bacon instantly filling the air. They were seated at a booth near the window, and Joelle slid into the seat across from Jey, who gave her a playful grin.

"So," he said as he picked up the menu, "what do you want? And don't say pancakes just because I mentioned them." He winked again, and Joelle let out a small chuckle.

"I'll have pancakes, actually," she replied, a tiny spark of humor in her eyes. "But I'm not doing it because of you. I just like pancakes."

Jey laughed. "Fair enough. Can't argue with that. I'll have the same."

As the waitress took their orders, the conversation shifted. Joelle's shoulders relaxed a little more with each passing minute. Jey knew that talking about something other than Malachi, at least for a little while, was probably the best thing for her. He didn't want to push her to talk about her feelings too much, but he could tell she was grateful for the distraction.

"So, how've you been holding up with everything?" Jey asked, his voice gentle. "I know it's a lot. And I know you've got a lot of responsibility on your shoulders, with Malachi and everything."

Joelle stirred her straw around in her glass of lemonade, looking thoughtful. "I don't know. It's just... I feel like I should be stronger, you know? Like I should be helping more, but I'm scared, Jey. I don't know how to make him better. I don't know what to do."

Jey's eyes softened, his expression understanding. "Hey, don't put that kind of pressure on yourself. You don't have to be perfect. You're doing the best you can. And that's enough. Your mom and Roman are doing their best too. Everyone has their role, and sometimes that's just being there. You don't have to fix everything. You're already helping just by being there for Malachi."

Joelle looked at him, her gaze unwavering. "But it's not enough. I want to do more."

Jey smiled, leaning forward slightly. "Joelle, listen. You're already doing more than you think. You're his big sister. You're a support for him, and for your mom. Sometimes, that's all that matters. You don't have to be a superhero to help. You've got a big heart, and that's all Malachi needs right now."

Joelle stayed quiet for a moment, her eyes meeting his as she processed his words. The waitress brought their food over, placing the plates in front of them with a smile before walking away.

Jey picked up his fork and took a bite of his pancake, then smiled. "See? Fluffiest pancakes in the world."

Joelle couldn't help but laugh at his enthusiasm, her tension easing just a bit. She took a bite of her own pancakes, savoring the sweetness as she tried to relax into the moment.

"Thanks, Jey," she said quietly after a few moments, her voice sincere. "I needed this. I didn't realize how much until now."

Jey gave her a warm, reassuring smile. "Anytime, kiddo. That's what family is for."

They ate their meal in comfortable silence, and for the first time in days, Joelle felt a sense of peace. It wasn't a complete fix-Malachi's situation still weighed heavily on her heart-but this small break, this moment of normalcy, felt like a breath of fresh air.

As they finished up, Jey paid the bill and stood, offering Joelle his arm. "Ready to head back?"

Joelle nodded, feeling lighter than when they first arrived. "Yeah. Let's go."

They walked out of the diner together, the sun now shining brightly above them, and though the road ahead was uncertain, for the moment, Joelle felt like she could take it in stride with the support of her family by her side.