Emily Bernard writes, “Each essay in this book is anchored in…mystery, in blood. They are also rooted in contradictions, primary among them being that the stabbing unleashed the storyteller in me. In more than one way, that bizarre act of violence set me free” (xii). Consider Bernard’s claim in light of “Scar Tissue” and the collection as a whole. Using evidence and examples, how are these personal essays rooted in contradictions? What seems to be the relationship between experiencing an act of violence and telling one’s story? How are the “scar” and “story” interconnected (218)?