<□□□□t□ each□pas□ing momen□, layers of pretense and facade began□to peel awa□,□rev□a□ing the raw □□□hen□icity that□lay beneat□□ The second□encounter stripp□d□away □he □onstraints of□ini□ial impress□ons, a□□owi□g fo□□□ deeper, more meaningful □onne□tio□ to t□ke root. W□□ls were disma□tled, ba□riers were □ro□□n□dow□, □nd vulne□abil□ties were laid □are□in a□disp□ay of ho□□sty an□ tran□pare□cy.□>