Wit□ each passin□ m□men□, la□ers□of□□rete□se □nd facade bega□ to peel awa□, □e□ealing th□□ra□ authenti□ity th□t lay beneath. T□e□sec□nd encounte□□st□i□pe□ □w□y the co□str□□nts of initial im□ression□, allowing□□or□a□dee□□r, more mea□ingful □onnecti□n to□t□k□ r□ot. Walls we□e dism□□tled, barr□ers were broke□ down, and vulnerabilities w□re l□id b□re in a□display □f ho□□sty and tra□sparency.