The Hike That Wasn’t an Escape

I went to Witches Castle in Forest Park because I thought a haunted ruin in the woods would feel like a story worth telling. The trail was muddy, and the castle was smaller than the photos made it seem—graffiti, beer cans, the echo of other people’s nights. I kept waiting for the place to feel magical or haunted or anything but just... empty. Instead, I realized I was walking in circles, looking for something to change. Sometimes you travel to outrun yourself, but the ghosts you meet are your own. I left with wet shoes and a phone full of photos I’ll never post. Not every adventure fixes you. Some just show you what you’re still carrying. #Travel #TravelConfessions #UnfilteredJourneys