In this quote from Raymond Carver's "Where I'm Calling From: New and Selected Stories," the speaker expresses a desire to escape from life's challenges and hardships. This longing to hide and shut out reality indicates an overwhelming sense of vulnerability and surrender to fate. The wish to let something beyond one's control take over reflects a deep emotional struggle and perhaps a feeling of resignation.
The sentiment conveyed highlights a universal struggle many face when confronted with difficulties. It's a poignant way of communicating the urge to avoid pain and hardship, wishing instead for time to pass and for others to take on the burdens that feel too heavy to bear. This longing for detachment underscores the complexity of human emotions and the desire for relief in moments of turmoil.