By the time Celia reached the psychology building, she was moving quickly enough to feel slightly ridiculous. She had misjudged the distance from the dock and then taken a wrong turn near the fitness pavilion, and when she finally found the right building she was acutely aware that she had only a minute or two to spare. She hurried through the entrance, checked the room number on her timetable and knocked before slipping inside.

"Come in."

The man behind the desk looked up as she entered. He was slim and perhaps in his late fifties, with neatly cut silver hair and understated glasses. His clothes were smart without being formal, and the office itself was considerably more comfortable than Celia had expected: bookshelves covered one wall, there were two armchairs opposite his desk, and a large window looked out over the trees. He glanced at the clock and smiled.

"I was beginning to wonder whether we'd lost you."

"I'm sorry. I took a wrong turn."

"You're here now, and technically you're not late." He gestured towards the chair opposite him. "Dr Marcus Hale."

"Celia."

"I know." He smiled. "Please, sit down. And don't worry, I was only nearly worried about you."

Celia laughed nervously and sat.

Dr Hale opened her file. "These assessments are fairly straightforward. I'm interested in understanding why you've come here, what you hope to achieve and whether there's anything about the programme that might be particularly challenging for you. There aren't really right or wrong answers."

"Okay."

"Good. So, let's start with the obvious one. What motivated you to come to Camp Evolve?"

Celia thought for a moment. "It seemed exciting, really. The idea of taking some time away from normal life and actually focusing on improving things. My overall life, I suppose. Work, fitness, my writing, just... everything."

"And you've been unhappy with those areas?"

"Not exactly. I think I've just been coasting a little."

He made a note. "Any significant trauma in your past?"

"No. I've been pretty lucky, really."

"That's good." He looked back at her. "You appear to be in reasonable shape already. Can I ask why you chose the weight-loss programme?"

"I'd like to be in the best shape of my life."

"How do you feel about your body overall?"

"Okay, I guess. There are parts I'd like to be better."

"Which parts?"

Celia hesitated, suddenly conscious of how clinical the question sounded. "Oh, um... my thighs, I guess."

"Anything else?"

"My stomach."

He waited.

"And... my arms. And, um, my butt, I guess."

Dr Hale nodded without judgement and made another brief note. "And outside of the physical goals?"

"I want to make progress on my novel."

"You're writing a novel?"

"Trying to."

"What has stopped you making progress in normal life?"

"Nothing, really. That's the strange thing. I have plenty of time. I just don't seem to use it properly."

"So why come all the way here?"

Celia smiled faintly. "I suppose it felt like a good circuit breaker. Somewhere I couldn't just fall back into the same routines."

"That's a useful observation."

He turned another page.

"Do you struggle with authority?"

"Not particularly. I actually like structure and goals. I'm pretty respectful."

"Would you say you're comfortable following rules?"

"Yes."

"Even rules you disagree with?"

Celia paused. "I suppose it depends on the rule."

Dr Hale smiled slightly but didn't pursue it.

"Are you easily embarrassed?"

"That's hard to say. I don't love standing out in a crowd. I like to fit in, I suppose."

"That's fairly common." He made another note. "As a child, did you receive corporal punishment?"

"Er... yeah. Until I was about eight, I think. Me and my siblings would get swats now and then."

"From your parents?"

"Yes."

"How did you feel about it?"

"I don't really remember feeling strongly about it. It was just something that happened."

He nodded and moved on.

"Do you engage in BDSM in your sexual relationships?"

Celia blinked at the abruptness of the question. "No. My ex liked handcuffs, but I wasn't really into it."

"Understood."

He made a note and then closed the questionnaire.

"That's everything."

Celia hadn't realised how tense she had become until that moment. She let out a breath and leaned back in the chair.

"How do you feel now the questionnaire is over?"

"Pretty anxious, actually."

"That's normal." Dr Hale gave her a reassuring smile. "You've spent the last half hour discussing quite personal subjects with someone you've never met before. I wouldn't expect you to feel completely relaxed."

He closed the file and placed it neatly on the desk.

"I don't see any reason for you not to proceed with the programme. You've been thoughtful about your goals, you appear motivated, and there's nothing you've told me that raises any particular concerns. Your medical assessment should be shortly."

He pointed towards the window.

"The medical centre is the large block just down the path. Good luck."

Celia stood and thanked him. Feeling a lot less relaxed than she had after the glass of wine at the dock she headed over to her next appointment.