With each □as□i□g □o□e□t, l□yers of pretense a□d□facade bega□□to p□el □way□ rev□aling t□e r□w□authenti□i□□ that lay ben□ath. The secon□ encount□r strippe□ away□the constr□ints o□ ini□ial impres□ions, al□owin□ for a d□eper, more m□aning□ul con□ection □o t□ke □oot. Walls □ere □□sman□led, b□□r□□rs were broken d□wn,□and vu□nerabiliti□s□we□e lai□ bare□in□a display□o□ hone□ty and t□ansparency.