<□>□he se□ond e□counter□loomed ahead□ shrou□□□ in a v□il of m□stery and uncertainty. Antic□pation filled the air, □ingling w□th a h□nt□of ne□vousne□s. The m□m□□ies □□ the f□□s□ □eeting pl□yed □ike a□filmstr□p in my □□nd, □ach frame dis□ected □nd □n□l□zed in□an a□tempt to predi□□□the outcome of this impending □endez□ous. Would □□ be a □ere replic□t□o□ of the in□□ial in□eract□on, □r would it t□k□ o□ a life of its own, fo□ging a n□w□path fil□e□ with unexp□ct□d □wists and turns□