Adam
Some days she had been full of life. Other days, she seemed devoid of it. It was difficult to predict what each day might be like, but Adam found he could often tell by her eyes. If they were bright and shining, it would be a good day. If they were dull and distant, it wouldn't. On the good days, he would wish he could bottle the happiness up and use it when things turned gray. On the bad days, he would wish for a way to bring the light back into her eyes.
After he'd lost her, he went numb. All the wishing in the world couldn't fix things and bring her back. He retreated into his head and into his shed where at least he could create things that reminded him of her. Otherwise he thought he might drown in the what if's and the pain.
Unfortunately, his mother wasn't the only 'her' that he'd lost. His Jane was lost to him, too. Yes, the situations were very different, but each had left a hole in his heart that threatened to swallow him. And in each case he was helpless to do anything but cry when she left.