Wi□h each passi□g moment, layers of preten□□ and facade began to□p□el □wa□, □eve□ling the raw au□henti□i□y□that lay beneath.□The□second encounter strip□ed away the □onstra□nt□ □□□initial i□pressi□ns□□allowing □or a□deeper, m□re mean□ngful c□n□□ct□o□ to ta□□ root. □alls □ere □ismantl□□, □□rriers were broken down, and vul□erab□liti□s□w□re l□id bare in□□ display of h□n□sty and transparency□