Snow. That's all she could see at that moment. Miles of the wintery blanket as the harsh wind came across the land, yet she was cozy. Warm and comfortable within her home. Papers sitting on the desk that she knew would change so much for the people that called the land home. Yet she knew it wasn't her own.

The place itself wasn't hers. Never was as long as she could remember the dreams. From the home to the universities, it bounced back and forth between them all. Halldóra Briem, Gunnfríður Jónsdóttir, and Katrín Magnússon. Three women that seemed to shape the world a little differently for people. She awed over them as she watched them change the world ever so slightly, but it never lasted. Gentle flutter of feathers came to her neck as a little beak nibbled at her cheek. She could see the birds black and white head as it looked at her, almost begging her to love on it just for his voice to come to her. Yet, as usual with the dreams, the happiness never lasted long.

She felt her hands and feet being restricted as his damning laugh echoed her head, the smell of petrol overwhelming her, soaking her. And the strike of the match. It was deafening as she knew it was coming, tried to scream out in defense yet nothing came as the nightmare burned her once more.

"Olivia!" someone shouted at her.

Olivia shot up from the seat, feeling the tingling in her hand as sensation slowly came back to her, "I'm up."

"Lord woman, you were out today." the nurse said, "How long have you been here?"

"Long enough but still able to go."

"She's starting to push forty-two hours." someone shouted.

The woman glared at her, "Olivia."

"What? I need the time in and the credentials as well." Olivia argued, "Not going to make it as an OBGYN sitting in an office or room doing nothing. Best to be hands-on."

"I get that but you're working yourself to death." the nurse closed the door behind her, "Look, I know why you're really here, but you left that all behind. He doesn't know where you are. You're safe here."

"Never safe anywhere."

"Olivia."

"What?"

The woman sighed, her hand resting on her shoulders, "Listen, you are going to be dragged down by this fear of him. I truly understand your fear, I really do. But if you don't conquer it, he will ultimately win."

Olivia got up from her seat, making her way to the door, "I hear that all the time. And he doesn't have free space in my head, never will, ever. So don't barge me on what I should do. Now if I have run's I'm making them."

"Oh no, you're not!" she felt herself be pulled back, the head nurse's grip tight on her shoulder, "You're going to that damn seminar I told you about if you like it or not."

"Oh come on. I make the mistake of telling you what I feel and you want me to kumbaya my damn feelings to everyone."

"It's more than that, you need to let past be past, and this thing will help you." she said, pulling her closer to her, "And I don't just mean what Max did to you either."

She felt a harsh shiver run up her spine. Balls. She forgot she spilled her dreams to her, speaking of what came to her when she slept, "Fine, I'll go. Best be good, or I won't go back."

"Oh, no worries. You'll go back, or I'll drag you there." the woman said as she pushed her out the door.

Olivia looked back at the hospital, wondering if she was doing the right thing in going to this lecture, but all thoughts were made for her as she saw her coworkers pointing for her to continue on. Shaking her head, she did as told. Deeply hoping that it was worth her time.

"What happened to you doesn't define you. You define you." the speaker stated, "You are the only person in charge of you. You say yes or no to what you want. Not the other person."

"What a crock." Olivia thought to herself, remembering hearing this same boring lecture after Max.

She sighed in her seat, half wondering what else they would speak about and how to escape without being seen. Her eyes landed on a man by the door, his own head nodding lower as the lecture continued. She tried to suppress her chuckle, yet failed when his head came back up, his green eyes found her just for his dark blond hair to fall forward as he smiled. She shook her head, trying to get back into the speaker until something poked her leg. Looking down, she was shocked to see a kiwi pecking at her shoes.

"Hey!" a harsh whisper came to her as the chair beside her moved, "You are to behave, not biting people."

Olivia saw the man as he picked up the little bird, "I'm really sorry about her, she's territorial. Mind you."

"It's alright, it's neat to see such a little creature running around here." she nodded, petting her little head.

"It is, makes me glad I spend my days outdoors. Finally got my wife to do the same."

"Guessing she's a city girl."

"Buenos Aires."

"Oh, party girl too."

He laughed lightly at her, "No, wrong one. Although she did say they have their own in their own ways but that's Brazil, she's Argentinian."

"And now," Olivia tapped the birds head, "A Kiwi."

"Takes one to know one, yes?"

"Could be called worse."

"Could be a Royal Bitch."

Olivia chuckled, "Little rude there."

"No, no, not you." he defended himself, "My cousin, he's English and serves under Her Majesty."

"Ah, well then. I think we Zealander and Aussies have our terms for them."

He smiled, "That we do. So what brings you here? You look horribly bored."

She sighed, "Coworkers. Was involved in a bad past and they hope it'll help me come out of the state I'm in."

"You look fine to me."

She glanced at him, "Oi, you're married. Better watch your eyes."

"Not the first woman I've seen with scars. Should see our one friend that's Swiss. His wife has scars that make you wonder why."

Olivia nodded, "Self-harm?"

"Yep. Took a lot out of him to heal her but it finally happened. Really got better when their little girl was born. Gave her something better to think about than an ugly past. Something to do right by as she said."

"Well, she found her way out of it then. Good for her."

"Guess your coworkers want you to find yours?"

"My head nurse especially. I made the mistake of telling her how I dreamed of three women one day surrounded by snow. Off she went."

He was silent beside her, making her wonder if she spoke too much. She looked over at him, seeing puzzlement cross his face as his hand stroked the bird, "Women?"

Olivia sighed, "Yea women. Don't ask. It's been like that for years. I call myself crazy, especially after all the stupid things I did, including my ex."

She heard him hum in reply, "Well, glad I came today. Found something in common with you."

Now she was curious, "Oh yeah, how?"

"My wife and you dreamed the same way. She dreamed of women from New Zealand, and due to them, it brought her here. Right to me I believe."

He had to be playing her, "You're funny."

"No, honest." he replied, "So tell me about them, or better yet, did you have doctors look you over and try and treat you about them?"

"Why?"

"Let's just say that it may lead you to find answers or others finding you."

"You are a strange man. Alright, I'll humor you. I have names. Halldóra, Gunnfríður, and Katrín."

He glanced over her as if he was trying to figure out whom she was- "Iceland."

"Excuse me?"

"Iceland. The women are from Iceland. An architect, a feminist activist, and a sculptor." he smiled at her, "Tell me I'm wrong."

Before she could get anything out, a shriek filled the air as a set of women seemed terrified of something. Leaving her seat, Olivia looked out the door, just to see a little bird walking around on the ground. She quickly picked up the ruffled creature as the speaker tried to calm the women of their fears.

"Jesus, it's just a little bird."

"Yet some are afraid...hey wait a minute." the man said as he looked over the bird, "It is you. Oh, he's going to be mad that you flew away from him. But I'll give you credit, you made one heck of a trek, my friend."

"What on earth are you talking about?" Olivia questioned, "It's just a..."

She couldn't find her words, for it was there. The little bird from her dreams, it's sweet eyes and soft feathers as it pecked her cheek lightly. It truly was it, it had to be.

"Yep, you're definitely Emil's. No doubt about it, Mr. Puffin."

"Mr. Puffin?"

"His name. This is a friend's pet, and he seems to know you. He's normally mean around people, but he takes to you quite well."

"How do you know this?"

He pointed to the little bird's neck, pointing out the strange reddish-pink feathers on his neck, almost shaped like a bowtie, "Mr. Puffin is the only puffin I know with that distinct pattern. And with the look on your face, the same one you dream of."

Her head snapped in his direction, "How in bloody-"

"As I said, my wife dreamed of women from New Zealand and you dream of women and Mr. Puffin which come from Iceland."

She pondered over everything that was being said to her, that her dreams were more than just dreams and the bird in her hands was more than just a bird but the very one from them as well. it had to be madness, just had to be.

"You believe me?"

She looked at him, remembering the voice from the dream, the one at times she thought of to put her to sleep and with it, a way to prove it all real, "I'll believe you when you prove to me that this is completely real."