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.
"Anneliese!"
The sisters collided in a hug that nearly knocked the smaller Austrian backwards and nearly knocling over the Red Bull can she was holding.
"You're crushing me."
"You've gotten thinner."
"I haven't."
"You have."
"I haven't."
"You have."
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.
No relationship drama.
No political drama.
No existential drama.
Just sisters.
"So," Resi said. "How's life?"
Anneliese shrugged.
"Busy. Tourists everywhere. Somebody fell into the lake trying to take a selfie with a swan."
"Natural selection."
"Resi."
"What? The swan won."
Anneliese laughed despite herself.
Resi smiled.
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.
Anneliese stared at it.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Absolutely yes."
"You look like a retired gamekeeper."
"I look magnificent."
"You look insane."
"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.
Comfortable silence.
The sort only siblings manage.
Eventually Anneliese spoke.
"You know, I don't say this enough."
Resi raised an eyebrow.
"Dangerous start."
"I'm serious."
"Oh God."
Anneliese nudged her.
"Be quiet."
Resi immediately grinned.
Anneliese looked out over the water.
"No matter how much trouble I get myself into, you're always there."
Resi's smile softened.
"Of course I am."
"I know."
"You're my little sister."
Anneliese groaned.
"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."
"I don't."
"You absolutely do."
Anneliese couldn't help smiling.
Resi leaned back in her chair.
"You know, when you were younger, I used to worry about you constantly."
"Constantly?"
"An unhealthy amount."
"Why?"
"You kept running toward disasters."
Anneliese looked offended.
"I did not."
"You absolutely did."
"You once challenged Vienna to a snowball fight that became a diplomatic incident."
"That happened one time."
"You set off fireworks indoors."
"That was an accident."
"You climbed a church tower."
"I was curious."
"You tried to ride a bear."
Anneliese paused.
"Okay, that one was fair."
Resi burst out laughing.
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.
Just as sisters.
And for a few precious hours, that was enough.
