The journey home begins with hope — and often ends in despair. Many Kurdish families are venturing to return to their former homeland, only to find destroyed homes, new power arrangements and a fragile level of security. Mohammad recalls how he had to leave everything behind—now he stands amid the ruins of his life. The new ruling powers want a Syrian state, an army and centralized authority. This is the opposite of what the Kurdish authorities seek to preserve: decentralized governance, recognition of Kurdish identity and local security forces. As political promises clash with reality, uncertainty grows: How will the Kurds fit into the new Syria?