I went to Mosul because I wanted to see for myself what was left after the headlines faded. I’m not a war reporter or an aid worker—just someone who books flights and reads too much late at night. The city is quieter than I expected. Kids played soccer in the dust where buildings used to be. I kept thinking about how easy it is to leave, to be the person with a return ticket. Locals smiled at me, sometimes with curiosity, sometimes with something heavier. I felt like an intruder, even though I’d convinced myself I was just curious. Travel isn’t always about finding yourself. Sometimes it’s about realizing how much you don’t belong, and how much that matters. #Travel #TravelHonesty #UnfilteredJourneys