I shook my head.
“Do you see the whole picture before you start?”
Yes.
“Does the picture feel complete in your mind before your hands move?”
Yes.
“Do you try different pieces to see if they fit?”
No.
“When a piece is wrong, do you need to test it to know that?”
No.
Her pen paused briefly, then continued.
“Do you feel like you’re deciding where pieces go?”
No.
“Does it feel more like putting them back where they belong?”
Yes.
She glanced up at me then, just for a second.
“Does time feel different while you’re working?”
Yes.
“Slower?” she asked.
I hesitated, then shook my head.
“Faster?”
Another pause. Then I nodded.
“Do you feel confused while solving the puzzle?”
No.
“Do you feel relieved when it’s finished?”
Yes.
Dr. Hampton leaned back slightly, studying me in an unfamiliar way.
“One last question,” she said. “If the puzzle were taken away halfway through, would the picture still be clear in your mind?”
Yes.
She closed her notebook.
“Thank you,” she said quietly. “That’s all I need,for now.”
