<□>Wi□h ea□h □□ssin□ moment, layers of pret□n□□ and□facade began t□ pee□ □way, □ev□a□in□ the raw □uthenticity that lay□b□□□ath. T□e second encount□r stripp□d□a□ay the □on□trai□t□ □f initial impressions, □□lowi□□□for a de□per, more meaningful□co□ne□ti□n to take □oot. W□l□s were□□ismantl□d, barri□□s□wer□ broken dow□, and vulne□abilitie□ were□la□d bare□□n a disp□ay □f□honesty□and t□anspa□e□cy□