What doesn't kill you will leave a scar. My character Cris is no stranger to such an experience as an adult. See below about he got this scar along his arm.
When he graduated from Hogwarts, he became a Cursebreaker. However, during one of his missions at a site, he was caught in the middle of a deadly attack by wizarding smugglers. Cris saw several of his colleagues perish, completely overwhelmed by the enemy. He took a fatal spell to the arm, leaving him just inches from death's door. But against all odds he survived, but not without the trauma as a reminder.
Whenever he looks at his scar, he can't help but get emotional as he's reminded of the events that haunt him. Seeing so many of his colleagues that he became so close with, gone in the blink of an eye. And that reminder of how close he was from death.
Wow this may be the most angst post I've ever made!