In the quote from Franz Kafka's "Letters to Milena," the author expresses a profound connection between his fears and the desire to escape from them. He suggests that if he could find solace in sleep, similar to how he is consumed by his fears, he would prefer that state of being to life itself. The imagery of drowning highlights the overwhelming nature of his emotions and the longing for peace that eludes him.

Kafka’s words reveal the depths of his internal struggles, illustrating a consuming dread that affects his existence. The juxtaposition of drowning in sleep versus drowning in fear underscores his wish to be liberated from anxiety, implying that a perpetual state of tranquility in slumber could serve as a release from his tumultuous reality. Through this lens, Kafka poignantly captures the torment of living in fear while yearning for escape.