□□>With □ach pa□si□g mo□ent, □a□ers □f preten□e and f□cad□ began □o pe□□ aw□□□ reve□ling th□ raw□au□henticit□ that □ay ben□a□□. The □□c□nd enco□□□er stripped away the □onstraints of□i□itial impressio□s,□al□□wing for a □eeper, □ore m□anin□□□l connection to take root. Walls were disman□led□ □ar□iers we□e b□oken down, a□d vulner□b□□ities we□e l□id bare in a display□□f ho□es□□ □□d tr□nspare□□y.