<□>With each p□ssing mome□t, la□ers of pre□e□se □□□ facade □e□an□□o peel □way,□□e□ealin□ the raw aut□en□i□it□ that□□a□ beneat□.□The second encoun□er stripped away the con□traints of in□tial impress□ons, □llo□ing f□r a□de□per□□□ore me□ni□gful co□□ecti□□ t□ take root□ Walls were di□man□led, barriers were b□oke□ down□ and vulnerabil□□□es w□re laid bare i□ □ display of h□nesty an□ transpa□enc□.