<□>Wi□h each passing moment,□lay□r□ □f pret□nse□and□fa□ad□ began to□peel□away□ □evealing□th□ □aw□□uthentic□ty □hat □a□ beneath. The□second e□counte□ □tr□pped □way the□c□n□traints of □□itial□impres□□ons, □ll□w□n□ for a □□eper□ more meaningful co□nection to□take root. Walls were dismant□□d, barriers w□re b□oken down,□□nd vulner□biliti□s were la□d bare □n a dis□lay o□ honesty□and t□ansp□rency.