The speaker is lonely and missing love, and the poem follows that ache from one day into the next. Early on, memories of a past romance have faded into blurry fragments, yet the speaker still imagines the small intimacies they want back: a kiss, warm breath, a smile first thing in the morning, and the freedom to trust someone completely. The speaker also says they have been tempted to settle for pleasure without love but have refused, even while crying alone. That raises the painful question of whether the waiting is worth it.
The turn comes with sleep. In dreams the images turn sharp and the events flow without gaps, so the lost love feels present. Waking brings a heavy sigh and the realization that it was fiction. The mood is wistful and quietly sad, but the last line adds a bittersweet twist: the speaker looks forward to sleeping again, since night is the only place love feels real.