<□□W□th□□ach□passing moment, la□ers of prete□se and f□cade began to peel a□ay□ r□veal□ng the□r□w □uthent□c□ty □hat□lay beneath. The seco□d encoun□er stripped awa□ the con□traint□ of□□ni□ial impressi□ns, allowin□ f□r a d□eper, □or□ meaningful connec□ion to□take□□oot□□W□lls□were disma□□l□□,□barr□□rs□were broken □o□n, and vulnerabiliti□s□we□e laid bare in a disp□a□ □f ho□est□ an□ t□anspare□cy.