I was in between. Fiercely independent, had money saved up, and some time before I went west.
My roommate called. Someone found a runaway dog. 
Dominoe.
Named her after the damsel in Sharky's Machine.
Malnourished, skittish, 
afraid of a raised hand.
We walked into the woods
...she always following 
a few yards away, my buddy.
One day we drove farther and walked in the autumn leaves.
Met an old friend.
 We chatted about 15 minutes
and I turned around...
She was GONE
I was hours running up and down the trail, crying out her name. 
 I was worthless. 
I could take care of myself, but no one else
WORTHLESS
darkness
I would camp out, return the next day. I would do that every day unti I found her. Every day.
I cried back to the car...
and there she was, waiting for me.
My awareness became a circle of responsibility of more than just myself.
We drove across the country...
had adventures
climbed mountains,
saw exciting lands,
made a home in Arizona
We parted permanently...
but I never forgot what I learned that day in the woods.