From My Diaries in America: Accompanied by a Businessman

Yemenat

3 days ago

In a message from 'Holda' to my friend Dr. Tareq Al-Amry, our organization is honored to invite Mr. Ahmed Saif Hashed to attend the conference in Washington. Mr. Ahmed may bring along two companions at our organization's expense, provided that one of them speaks English. Following this, arrangements were made for the journey from New York to the conference hall.
During my trip to Washington, the first challenge I faced was meeting my companion, businessman Omar Al-Saadi. The idea of having a businessman as my companion, especially one holding American citizenship, was something I never imagined, even for a day in my past.
In Sana'a, all my companions have been simple, kind people throughout various phases and successive authorities, regardless of whether they supported me or faced repression. Tragically, one of them was murdered unjustly and violently.
My first companion was Adel Saleh Yahya, my wife's brother. He was killed by a beating that led to his death during a time when Rashad Al-Alimi was the Minister of Interior. He was murdered by a gang linked to a ministry official, who was the head of the security and protection department. When justice eludes you due to an authority that prevents its pursuit, it leaves a wound in your heart, a pain and sigh that never fades.
The rest of my companions each experienced their share of assault and violence in one way or another: Fikri Mohammed Saeed, Khaled Al-Qurtab from Lahij, Khaled Al-Qahtani from Shar'ab, Ibrahim Al-Jalah from Raymah, Ammar Qardash from Aden, Marwan Al-Haj from Taiz, and others.
I interacted with my companions on equal terms. Our relationship was marked by love, without arrogance or a sense of hierarchy. I treated each of them with kindness and care, filled with warmth.
Those who accompany me must take risks and anticipate the worst possibilities. I remember wanting one of my relatives to join me once, but he replied, 'I won't gamble with my life. I'm still young; I want to live and enjoy my life.'
However, my companion Nabeel Al-Hossam was the perfect partner. Nabeel had a disability in one of his legs, but he was noble and loyal. He had a fiery temperament, often hitting the table with his fist during disagreements, only to regret it and apologize afterward.
Today, in New York, my companion has been a businessman for two consecutive days. We might become friends—it's just a possibility. Throughout my life, I've rarely found chemistry with businessmen; even those with whom I share some fondness have remained distant, with an unbridgeable gap between us. At best, we have maintained a hundred-foot distance that feels off-limits.
* * *
In New York, I was staying in the Bronx while my companion lived in Manhattan. I thought he would come to my area, and we would take the train together, but I was surprised to learn he wanted me to come to him. From there, we would head to the American capital, Washington.
I couldn't risk taking the train to my friend's city, fearing a potential mistake that could leave me lost and miss the conference, which was the main event.
I needed an alternative to the train for this journey—a taxi to take me from my city to his. To arrange this, I had to enlist the help of a friend. Even the simplest tasks required assistance; given my tendency to expect the worst, I arrived in my companion's city six hours early.
I was left wondering how to spend all that time! Six long hours at night with no chance to sleep. The hours felt like chains dragging on my body. I spent most of the time walking, with moments standing or sitting while waiting. The waiting drained both my spirit and body.
I arrived in Manhattan to a rainy, cold evening, with night still ahead of me and long hours of waiting until our meeting. The city was filled with luxury, while I wandered through it, drenched and exhausted from the previous day, having had no sleep.