Stotgun!
Thank you Dee for that thoughtful OP.
Congratulations on shotgun GMS, I hope you are well.
I think most of my scars are either internal, to my insides and my psyche or external, to family relationships, friends and career prospects and whilst some of those are broken beyond repair others are stronger now than they have ever been. My scars are definitely a part of who I am.
ps. I have not read the book but The Illustrated Man starring Rod Steiger is an excellent film.