The quote reflects on the nature of experience and destiny, suggesting a moment of significant change that can occur in the quiet of the night. It implies that life can fork into different paths at crucial times, often unnoticed, as we drift into sleep and wake up to a seemingly unchanged reality. Such moments may involve profound happiness or deep sorrow, yet they can lead to a reevaluation of one’s existence without a clear transition.

Nabokov captures the idea that in life, events can happen that subtly alter our paths, much like the hidden transitions between sleep and wakefulness. The protagonist may live with a complicated sense of what they have experienced, as their past clings to them while they navigate through the present. This duality emphasizes the complexity of human experience and highlights the intricate relationship between the moments that define us and the ones we may never fully recognize.