The train gently snaked through the majestic mountains, passing shimmering lakes that sparkled like glass and cozy villages nestled beneath lush green slopes. Resi had spent most of the journey pressed happily against the window, excitedly pointing out cows to absolutely nobody..
As she stepped onto the platform in Zell am See, she took a deep breath, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation..
Now, this," she exclaimed happily to the unsuspecting mountains, "is truly some beautiful scenery."
A familiar voice called from behind her.
"You literally live in Bavaria."
Resi turned and immediately grinned.
The sisters collided in a hug that nearly knocked the smaller Austrian backwards and nearly knocling over the Red Bull can she was holding.
Anneliese rolled her eyes.
Five minutes later they were walking along the lakeside with ice creams despite the fact it wasn't remotely ice cream weather.
It was one of those rare days where neither of them had a crisis.
"So," Resi said. "How's life?"
"Busy. Tourists everywhere. Somebody fell into the lake trying to take a selfie with a swan."
Anneliese laughed despite herself.
That was part of why she came.
Salzburg carried so much tension sometimes. Expectations. History. Family pressure. Responsibilities. She worried constantly, even when she pretended not to.
Today she looked relaxed.
They wandered through town, stopping at bakeries and little shops.
At one point Resi bought a ridiculous alpine hat with a feather.
"You look like a retired gamekeeper."
"Those aren't mutually exclusive."
Anneliese snorted into her coffee.
Later they ended up sitting on the terrace of Anneliese's home overlooking the lake.
The afternoon sun painted the mountains gold.
For a while they simply sat together.
The sort only siblings manage.
Eventually Anneliese spoke.
"You know, I don't say this enough."
Resi immediately grinned.
Anneliese looked out over the water.
"No matter how much trouble I get myself into, you're always there."
"You're my little sister."
"We're both centuries old."
"And yet you're still my little sister."
"I hate when you do that."
"You love when I do that."
Anneliese couldn't help smiling.
Resi leaned back in her chair.
"You know, when you were younger, I used to worry about you constantly."
"You kept running toward disasters."
Anneliese looked offended.
"You once challenged Vienna to a snowball fight that became a diplomatic incident."
"That happened one time."
"You set off fireworks indoors."
"You climbed a church tower."
"You tried to ride a bear."
"Okay, that one was fair."
Soon Anneliese was laughing too.
Their voices drifted across the lake as evening settled over Zell am See.
For all their differences, for all the arguments and bickering and centuries of chaos, there was something reassuring about being together.
Not as Bavaria and Salzburg.
Not as regions or cities or symbols.
And for a few precious hours, that was enough.
