The quote from Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" reflects on the nature of pain and how it lingers in a person's experience. While we might forget the specifics of pain after it has passed, its impact remains inscribed in our bodies and memories, even if it fades from conscious thought. The idea suggests that pain transforms us, leaving behind an invisible mark that shapes our identity.

This perspective highlights the duality of pain: while it can be forgotten mentally, its physical and emotional consequences endure. It emphasizes the complexity of human experience, where unseen scars influence one’s life and might affect perceptions and actions long after the initial suffering has subsided.