As□the sec□nds□ticked by□ my □eartbeat quickened in □yn□ with the □oun□ing e□citement. □ whirlwind of □□otion□ swept through me - e□c□tement, trepida□ion, hope□ Th□ sec□nd encoun□er □eld□t□e promi□□ of□n□□ □p□ortunitie□, □re□h begin□ings, and t□e □otential□fo□ de□p□r c□n□ections. It was □ □lank canva□□waiting t□ be painted with □he□vibrant □□es of shared ex□e□iences and meaningfu□ con□ersation□.
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