Every time my eyes fall upon your photo fixed in a corner of our house, they overflow with tears and I am overwhelmed with anguish to the point of suffocation. That house, oh Asaad, used to exude joy and happiness, filled with the echo of your laughter. My son, perhaps time did not allow me to tell you that I was always that father who was proud of his son. While growing older before my eyes, my hope in you grew. I was certain you would become something exceptional in your society because despite the simplicity of your condition, you did not give up. You worked, carrying weights, to pay for your university fees. You had a dream and passion, and I had complete faith in your ability to achieve it.
However, came the day, February 2nd, 2018, specifically at midnight, when Houthi gunmen took you to AlSaleh Prison in Taiz, where you remained for four months before being transferred to the Dhamar Community College prison, while we knew nothing of you.
Where were you?
What was your crime that led to your arrest and disappearance?
We did not see you that whole time, and could not even check on your condition, until one day I received a call from you telling me you were terribly exhausted in that place, and wanted to get out by any means. Your pleas burned my soul. I worked hard, and followed up to get you released and back into my arms. I completed the bail procedures for your release and my heart almost leapt out from joy and longing to see you and get you out of that place.
Sadly, my hope and joy evaporated when I heard the news of the prison being bombed. I contacted the Red Cross and had a glimmer of hope that you were still alive. That hope vanished when they asked me to come to the hospital to identify your corpse. My beloved son, I arrived there, and found only half your body. Even in death, my son, you were not whole in this country. Half a body and half a dream. I returned to life while you are no longer by my side. I returned with a photo labeled, Asa’ad Sa’eed Hakeemi, one of the victims of the Dhamar Community College bombing.