Why Want Another Universe If This One Has Dogs?

Summary

• The chapter is set on Castle Road, with main characters passing by a local shop called String Theory, which they discover has closed due to increased rent. The shop's farewell message is recognized as being written by a character named Neil.
• The characters, Dylan and Nora, have a conversation about music, revealing Dylan is named after Bob Dylan and his older sister is named Suzanne, after a Leonard Cohen song.
• Dylan also asks Nora about her music background, with Nora confirming she used to play piano.
• The conversation shifts to the topic of parallel universes, with Dylan saying he believes in them and Nora questioning about what he’d be doing in another life.
• Dylan reveals he was accepted into Glasgow University to study Veterinary Medicine but never went due to missing his dogs and his dad losing his job. Despite not fulfilling his dream of becoming a vet, he expresses no regrets, happy with his life in Bedford due to his dogs and good friends.
• As they approach the restaurant, they encounter another character, Ash, a runner preparing for a half marathon. Nora recognizes Ash from different experiences in different timelines, but in this current timeline, they don't share these same experiences.
• The chapter concludes with Nora describing Ash to Dylan as "someone I knew in another life", leaving Dylan slightly confused.