Abou Adhma is emblematic of the confusion many Egyptians have gone through since February 2011 when the leader of three decades finally stepped down. Mubarak's fall brought an ecstatic sense of accomplishment among millions who joined the mass protests and persevered through violent crackdowns by security forces and regime supporters. As the old regime fought back to retain its powers, that has given way to a wide range of emotions — despair and disappointment among many, stubborn defiance among others.

The generals who took over from Mubarak oversaw a torturous and lopsided transition which they promised would lead to a democratically elected government and president. They proclaimed themselves the defenders of the revolution's goal: a deep change from Mubarak's corrupt police state. The protesters summed it up, "Bread, social justice and human dignity."

Instead, the military is as entrenched as ever.