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...
we had adventures
... saw exciting new lands
We looked around...
Made a home in Arizona. We were companions.
We parted permanently, but I never forgot what I learned that day in the woods.
Dominoe.
