□□>□i□h each pass□ng□□oment,□□ayers of pret□nse a□d□fa□a□□ began t□ peel aw□□,□re□ea□□ng □he□raw authentici□y□t□a□ lay bene□th. The□second enc□unte□ st□ipped away the co□straint□ of i□iti□l impres□ions, allowing for a dee□er□ more meaningful□connection to ta□e roo□. W□lls were dismant□ed□ □a□riers were broken do□n, and vuln□rabili□□es we□e lai□ bare□in a d□spl□y of honesty an□□trans□a□enc□.<□□>