Istanbul felt like a city suspended in time—bridging East and West, memory and renewal. Sitting under the dome of Hagia Sophia, I thought about how grief also holds two worlds: before and after. But in Cappadocia, floating above ancient lands in a hot air balloon, I saw life from a new perspective—literally and emotionally. Turkey gave me history, hospitality, and a powerful reminder: you can start a new chapter, even when you’re still carrying the old one.
