5. Transition

Leaving the diner, William went back home. He kinds of wanted to go to the spillway to look for fossils, but he just didn't have the energy or motivation to do it now. And so he returned to his apartment and settled in to watch a movie.
Movies were great for distracting the mind from everyday troubles. But people with depression could find that sad movies increased their depression, while happy movies or comedies made it better, at least in the short term. 
He chose Jim Henson's The Labyrinth with David Bowie as the Goblin King. He could recite every line of the movie, but it made him happy to watch it. He made a bowl of popcorn, grabbed a Dr. Pepper from the fridge, and got comfortable of the couch.
As his favorite scene was approaching, the masquerade ball, he paused it to get up and go to the bathroom. He closed the bathroom door out of habit. But when he opened it again, he did not see his apartment. The doorway opened out into a forest of trees and a carpet of grass, wet with morning dew.
William stood there for a moment trying to wrap his mind around what he was seeing. Turning back, he saw his small bathroom. But looking forward was not what should be. He shook his head vigorously and rubbed his eyes.
No change.
Part of dealing with depression and anxiety is having a safe place that you can go; somewhere that you are safe from the stresses of the world. His safe place was no longer there. He thought that either he was asleep and dreaming, or he had stumbled upon an interdimensional portal. Dreaming was a much more plausible explanation.
Yes, that was it. He had fallen asleep while watching Labyrinth and was having dreams inspired by the movie. That had to be it. Right?