Since revealing his battle with liver disease, August Alsina’s sense of humor on Instagram comes as a bit of a relief and signals that he’s still remaining in high spirits.

But after posting his hilarious, and slightly heartbreaking, message to his dad for Father’s Day, we’re not sure which to do first — laugh or lament.

The Testimony R&B crooner posted the picture of him and “his father” to Instagram commemorating the patriarchal holiday on Sunday (June 18). The only problem is that there was no dad to be found in the flick — just Alsina and his arm cradling the spot where his father should be.

“THROWBACK,” he captioned the post. “This picture is so dear to me... rare photo of my father and I. Happy Father’s Day people!”

Sadly enough, we got the point that the 24-year-old’s father apparently hasn’t been in the picture, both literally and figuratively, for some time. The post is especially concerning as he struggles with the illness of the aforementioned liver disease. Alsina also revealed that terminal illness runs in his family and is also the cause of death of his father and grandfather. Thankfully, however, he’s made light of the situation and has devoted himself to fighting for his health despite the hereditary circumstances.

See Alsina’s Father’s Day message — absentee-style — in the post below.