A year has gone since you departed for a place closer to heavens; yet your memory remains vivid among us, woven into the fabric of our hearts as if you never left. Your absence feels unreal, more like a passing thought, while your presence still lingers in the spaces you cherished and the moments we shared.

A year ago, I wrote about you: "Iskandar Safa Reached the Summit… and Became Closer to the Sky." At the time, I was struggling to grasp the pain of your loss, the vast emptiness left in your absence, and to translate my grief into words that could carry the weight of the sorrow in a different way.

Today, as I reflect on that painful memory, I find myself reliving moments that resurface and renew themselves each day, as if they are too vivid to fade. Memories infused with the strength of your presence, once so deeply woven into every space. Conversations echo with your voice once more, retold not as distant recollections, but as if they are unfolding in the present. Time itself feels like a sailing ship shaped by your hands, with you as its enveloping sea.

You envisioned Al Safa News as more than just a platform, it was your way of reigniting hope in the hearts of Lebanese youth, fostering a sense of citizenship, belonging, and coexistence. You dreamed of a space that would bridge divides, where diverse opinions would serve as a foundation for dialogue and unity rather than discord and division.

Your words about the essence of this platform and the path it must continue to follow remain our guiding compass, and always will. Al Safa News, bearing both your name and your vision, must continue to reflect the grand aspirations you pursued relentlessly, turning them into tangible plans, strategies, and projects that shaped your professional journey.

It is in the absence that the very weight of the presence is felt. Only then, does the heart grasp the depth of the irreplaceable void. Time does not erase the imprint of those who leave too soon, it only magnifies the legacy they built. The burden you carried was great, and the legacy you left behind is even greater.

Today, Akram and Alejandro Safa carry the torch, two ambitious young men determined to honor your trust and uphold the immense responsibility you placed in their hands. With unwavering dedication, they will strive to fulfill your vision, wherever you may be, just as you always did.

I know, with absolute certainty, that the summit you reached was never just the pinnacle of an achievement, nor a final destination you arrived at alone, nor a goal you simply wished to check off. It was a journey, a path walked with passion, shared with those you loved.

Simply put, from the depths of the heart, without barriers or limits, you were the embodiment of strength, integrity, chivalry, humanity, morality, and generosity.

Iskandar Safa, you were more than a friend, you were a brother, a companion, a confidant, and a cherished soul who knew how to turn even the simplest moments into unforgettable memories. You were a guiding light for those around you, illuminating their path with your smile, your wisdom, your nobility, and a presence that filled every space with warmth and joy.

This past year has only reinforced a truth: grief does not mean forgetting, and remembrance is not just a reel of images or words. You left behind a memory that can never be erased, a presence that was, is, and will always be deeply felt. A memory that brings you back to us every time we recall your laughter, your words. You remain in our hearts, even as you rest in the heavens.

On this first year memory of your depart, I can only say:

"May God have mercy on your soul and grant you eternal peace in paradise."

You will always remain in our hearts and memories, a timeless source of pride. Your legacy will continue to shine, unwavering and untouched by the passage of time.