the problem, of course, is that the sacrifice she had chosen had been over and done a long time ago: she had changed her ways and left her family for a life she wanted, a life she could choose. for love - - for ted, and then for their daughter. the rest of it she had not chosen, would not have chosen if she could. would happily go back and change by force of will alone, if only she could. keep ted from death, keep dora from leaving to fight, somehow. (in the deepest, darkest part of her she thinks she would sacrifice even this peace if she could have them back again. would give anything but teddy just for the two of them.) “do not make me into a hero,” she says to the nephew she had never thought she’d know. “what i wanted, what i sacrificed for, that’s all but gone.” she looks him in the eyes as she says it, measures him up as best she can. “there were many people of valor in these battles who fought for justice and peace. my daughter was one of them. my ends were always more selfish.”