#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;

string every_second(string s)
{
    if (s.length() <= 1)
    {
        return s;
    }
    else
    {
        string simpler = every_second(s.substr(2)); // Get substring starting from the 3rd character
        return s[0] + simpler;
    }
}

int main()
{
    string s = "Hello";
    cout << every_second(s) << endl;
    cout << "Expected: Hlo" << endl;
}