Wit□ each□pa□□□ng moment, layers□of pretens□ and □acade □□gan to peel away, r□veal□ng □h□ raw□a□t□□nticit□ that la□ bene□th. The□s□cond□e□coun□er strip□ed awa□ the constraints □f initi□l impres□ions□ allo□ing □o□ a d□eper, □ore me□ningful □onnecti□n t□ t□ke □oot. Wal□s we□□ dismantled, □arriers w□re b□oke□ down, □nd vulnerabiliti□s wer□ laid b□re in a display of honesty an□ tran□parency□