Two hours of driving go by, time that brings along the dusk in its endsay – heaven's slow surrender to night's dark seduction. Across the valley on Emerynne's side of the road, the sun slides behind the mountains, kissing the sky deep crimson and rich peachy-pink in its wake. Shadows of the oncoming night darken the horizon until the Salzkammergut Alps are merely looming mounds of tenebrous silhouettes, like waves of an obsidian ocean. Emerging from the third tunnel so far, Emerynne finally sees lights of civilization down the hillside, twinkling as if asking them to hurry. Moments later, they pass the 'Welcome to Hallstatt' signboard.

Slowing to a stop near a fork in the road, Emerynne shakes her mother awake. "We're here. What's the address again?"

Annika yawns in her cupped palms, then brushes the wispy strands of hair away from her face, sitting up straighter. "It was near some hotel... where did I keep that note?" she mutters, mostly to herself, as she reaches into the back seat to get her purse. A few seconds of rifling in there, she holds up a small square of paper, squinting at it under the dim car light. "Heritage Hotel," she informs, "it's two blocks from there."

Angling slightly out of her window, Emerynne calls to draw the attention of the nearest passerby for help with the directions. After a small exchange with the gentleman, they are off meandering through the town's convoluted roadways. Eventually, their drive comes to a halt in front of one of the many quaint, three-storied buildings dotting Hallstatt. Window boxes spilling over wild growth, a pitch roof, filigreed edges, and gargoyle spouts at the corners – the structure looks like it is plucked right out of a gothic fairytale. A stairway zigzags up its side, a door to an apartment at each landing. Sodium bulbs illuminate words painted in thick, black script on a strip of its front walls: Ruhe Apartments.

"This is it," Annika says, surveying the building. Fishing out her phone from her purse, she dials a number and presses the device to her ear, waiting for her elder sister to pick up. "Erika," she says when the call is received, "we are outside."

A little while later, the door on the second-floor landing opens and out rushes a woman. Descending the steps at the speed of sound, the first thing she does on reaching the ground is pull Annika into her embrace. "Annika..." her voice comes out in a relieved sigh, "I'm so glad you're here."

Erika Kaufmann is the slightly taller version of Annika, having the same wavy brown hair, angular nose, and hazel eyes. Emerynne adjudges that they are nearly identical in appearance, but starkly opposite in the way they carry themselves – where her mother prefers to dress simple and prim, her aunt is attired eccentrically, draped in bright colors and laden in numerous jewelries. The latter also possesses fivefold the energy and liveliness of the former. Right now, however, one could mistake Annika as the elder of the two, given how lined and drawn she appears, in contrast to the vibrant and fresh-faced Erika.

The two hug for a while as Emerynne awkwardly stands by the car. It feels like an eternity has passed by the time their embrace ends, like they have made up for the time spent apart in one long and fond encapsulation of each other. Once Erika's attention focuses on her niece, she examines her up and down. It has been more than four years since she last met her; consciously fretting over a loose thread on the right sleeve of her sweater, Emerynne shifts her weight from foot to foot.

Finally, Erika glides over and throws her arms around her. "Emery, my darling," she says with so much love that Emerynne immediately feels her troubles ease their hold on her, a weight seems to have lifted from her chest. "It has been so long."

"It has," agrees Emerynne, returning the hug. Erika still smells of spices and incense, of the good memories they made the few times she had visited Vienna. The two separate, and Emerynne smiles – her first, genuine smile in what feels like ages.

"All grown up and pretty, pretty, pretty..." Erika singsongs, looking Emerynne over again. With a smirk of her lips and a playful flick at her arm, she adds, "pink hair, tattoos... so gorgeous!"

Emerynne's cheeks go warm at her compliment. "Thanks, Aunty," she says, "mama doesn't appreciate them though."

"Typical Annika, you still aren't one for artistic style, are you?" she teases her sister. "Let your daughter have some fun. She's only—wait, sweetheart, how old are you?"

"Nineteen," Emerynne supplies, amused.

From behind her, Annika scolds, "Erika! Don't encourage her outrageous fashion statements!" Although she sounds miffed, her lips are canted in a smile.

Erika laughs, shaking her head. "Fine. I won't," she promises, meanwhile shooting Emerynne a cheeky wink and soundlessly mouthing 'you look great'.

Emerynne cannot help but giggle, and mouth back 'thank you'.

"Alright then, ladies!" Erika claps her hands together. "Let's go inside before the chill gets to us."

Only after she has pointed it out does Emerynne realize how frosty it has become with the advent of nightfall, the chill needles bone-deep. Hallstatt is so much colder than Vienna, because of its position on a higher altitude and its closeness to the Hallstatt Lake. The women carry as many things as they can so that they don't need to make any more trips, then hurry to get indoors. Once inside, Emerynne sets her suitcase and a box of Annika's last-minute knick-knacks down on the floor, proceeding to slide her satchel off her shoulder.

"What about the car?" she queries, thinking of how it is parked out front, sitting obnoxiously in the narrow street.

"Heritage Hotel has public parking," Erika answers. "Give me the keys, I'll go snag a space."

Handing over the car keys to her aunt, who then flies downstairs, Emerynne turns to her mother. Annika has seated herself on the old-fashioned chaise in front of the fireplace from where an electric heater is warming up the room. Kneeling in front of her, Emerynne wraps her arms around Annika's middle and lays her head in her lap. "We'll be okay," she says, more to convince herself now.

"Yes, baby," she hears Annika whisper back.

In that moment, soothed by Annika's fingers sifting through her tresses, Emerynne decides that a handful of the Ted Talks had some substance to them after all. Second chances aren't given out by some benign old man in the clouds; they are meant to be taken for oneself. They are to be sought and chased and grabbed.

Erika returns soon afterwards. Emerynne extricates herself from Annika's arms and stands, her head spinning from the sudden movement. The exhaustion has finally caught up, manifesting as a crick in her neck, an ache along her spine. Clearing her throat, Emerynne says, "Aunt Erika, could you show me where we're staying? I'm tired..."

"Of course," Erika says, then asking, "what about dinner?"

"I just want to go to bed." Emerynne picks up her suitcase and satchel, preparing to go after Erika.

"Are you sure?" Annika questions, sounding concerned. "Sleeping with an empty stomach isn't such a good idea..."

"I just need some rest, mama."

"Well, if that's what you wish."

Neither of the two women insist anymore. Erika begins leading her down the hallway, deeper into the flat.

"Goodnight, baby," Annika calls from the living room.

"Goodnight, mama," Emerynne responds over her shoulder as she continues behind Erika.

Pointing at the first door they come across, Erika says, "this is where Annika and I will be. I've only got one spare room, which you'll get."

A little bit farther in, she opens a second door, revealing a smaller room with a single bed, a wardrobe, a study table and a chair pushed up against opposite walls. Emerynne steps inside, leaves her suitcase by the bed and deposits her satchel on the chair.

"I was able to clear two shelves for you in this armoire," Erika relays, alluding to the wardrobe as she leans against its doors. "But if you need more space, tell me. About time I get rid of some rubbish from the house."

"I will," Emerynne assures her. Exhaling tiredly, she lets herself drop heavily on the bed.

"I'll leave you to it, then. Goodnight." One last smile and Erika leaves, shutting the door behind her.

Emerynne is so worn out that she doesn't even change into pajamas; her body falls into the bed and her mind has pushed all her fears to the back, turned them vague, like a fly on the wall. Emerynne's last thought before Lady Slumber whisks her to her kingdom is that tonight, she can sleep without needing to keep one eye open. And she knows for certain that when she wakes up tomorrow, she will not be finding freshly formed bruises.

We'll be just fine.