[She nods, slow, the tremble echoed up her arm as well; in her voice]

...Here goes.

[A deep breath, and one last step, and she sinks under the water.]

[The burn goes hotter--colder--as the water closes over her head, up her muscles and tendons and the map of scars up her back; flaring over her skin, down her veins, burning out her heart.

A yelp before she can stop herself, though it's hard to worry about things like air when she is burning inside and out,]