Part 3
He accepted the fact that his light was gone, had been gone for a long time. He accepted that his reason to smile had died with his wife, his love, his Adora. He accepted that his lips would be forever turned down in a scowl at the world, the cruel, unforgiving world that stole the smile from his lips. There was nothing left to smile about, nothing to laugh at, nothing that shined in his life. Nothing was left except for sarcasm, cynicism, and bitterness.
Until he saw her again, her smile bright when she turned her head at his greeting. He felt the corners of his lips turn up, just a hint of a smile as she launched herself at him, an excited "Cain, you're alive," springing her from lips. For a moment, the smile came unbidden to his face, his lips turning up, his eyes bright. Her arms wrapped around his neck and back, catching him off guard. He'd barely brought a hesitant hand to rest softly against her leather jacket when her body tensed and she pulled back. He returned to his scowl, but the look she gave him made him wonder if his eyes betrayed him.
He was never supposed to smile again.