Final answer:
In "The Knowers" by Helen Phillips, the protagonist's choice negatively impacts her life by haunting her and leaving an indelible mark on her surroundings as indicated by the line from the story about her choice's lasting effect.
Step-by-step explanation:
The story "The Knowers" by Helen Phillips explores the complexities of knowledge and how one's life can be impacted by the choices made based on that knowledge. The protagonist's life becomes worse after her choice because it haunts her and the space around her.
A supporting line from the story is, "What she did was so terrible that the house has never forgotten. The thought in Lucy Dare's mind during those hours while she made her choice has left an in-effaceable impression on the things that surrounded her." This line indicates that the choice had a lasting negative effect, not just emotionally, but also left an imprint on her environment, creating a more spiritually haunting presence than the physical reality.