Alternate universes, millions upon millions of alternate universes. In many Sherlock Holmes is a fictional construct. In mine, he is a living, breathing, thinking being. Both are true. Both must be true because here I am and here that is, both existing simultaneously.

It certainly raises interesting questions of pre-destination and free will, but then those are much the same questions theologians have attempted to reconcile for centuries. Only in my case, I know there is a God, and his name is Conan-Doyle. [He may make a good show of not being fazed, but that last is said with more than a hint of bitterness.]