[No wonder she was getting along well with him. Those were traits both her soon to be husband and herself tended to carry from time to time. Both the lacking empathy and the spells of melancholy when left to their thoughts for too long.

Rip was just happy she wasn't left to her thoughts longer than necessary otherwise she might not have been as agreeable as she is in this moment.]

I find zhat zhe definition of victory shifts over time, not because expectations are lowered or shifted to be less zhan you initially desired, but, because your priorities change.

[She idly started to toy with a pen on her desk.]

For me, a lasting victory vill be a long happy life vith my husband und healthy children to raise.

[Compared to her past? The victory for her is living when she wasn't supposed to on top of finding happiness she would have been otherwise denied.]

At one time, zhat lasting victory may haf been being victorious in battle vhether I died or lived. But, zhat vas a very long time ago.

As I said, priorities can change und so can one's definition of victory.