The narrator reflects on a past experience, recognizing that she was slow to realize someone wasn't engaging honestly with her. This hindsight reveals a level of confusion and naivety on her part, as she was caught up in the situation without recognizing the underlying truth.
The incident escalated to physical confrontation when the other person had to resort to punching her to make a point. Although he felt remorseful afterwards, the moment highlights the miscommunication and disconnect in their interaction, ultimately illustrating that sometimes, clarity comes only after a significant event.