<□>With eac□ p□ssing □□me□t, □ayers of p□eten□e and faca□□ b□gan to peel a□ay, reve□l□ng the r□w□□uthentici□□ tha□ lay benea□h.□The □econd enco□n□er□stripped away□□he co□s□raints of init□□l impressions, al□owing for□a □eeper, mor□ mea□□ngful □onnection to take root. □□lls we□e disma□tled, b□rr□ers were □roken down, an□ vulnerabilities w□r□ lai□□bare i□ a □i□□lay of □on□sty and tr□ns□arenc□.