With eac□ passing moment,□l□y□rs of □retense an□ f□c□de□began to pee□ □way, revealing the r□w □uth□nt□c□ty th□t la□ beneath. □he se□ond encount□r □t□□pp□d away□t□e □□□s□rai□ts□o□ ini□□al impres□ions,□al□o□ing□for a □eeper, mor□ meaningful con□e□□ion to t□k□ roo□. Wal□s□were dismantled, barriers were□br□ken do□n, and vulnerabil□ties w□re la□d bare in a□□is□lay of hon□sty□an□ transparency.<□p>□