''Salvation'' emphasized my need for acceptance and at the same time made me fear the rejection of being different. Where “Salvation” showed me my weakness, “Mothers” showed me growth. My father's departure played a bigger role in my life than I remembered, and "Mothers" simply showed me the door to that again. In addition to being torn by my relationship with my father, Quindlen made me grateful for the best friend I found in my mother. Hughes brought up all the "skeletons in my closet" that I never told my mother. [Instead of feeling ashamed for keeping secrets and affairs from her, I felt shame for every time I lied to save myself from her wrath.] Both authors took me to moments in my life that had lasting impressions on me. “Mothers” made me relive the birth of my little sister and “Salvation” made me recall countless disagreements I experienced with my parents. While I would like to secrete these memories, it has been healing for me to remember the lessons I learned from them. Hughes and Quindlen are both, undeniably, great authors who can use their power in words to move readers. The memoir and short story brought me haunting memories that I enjoyed reliving. I can't think of any other literature that can expose such intense feelings on my part, but anyone can connect to these works. Most people can connect to the pressure Hughes describes, and have probably also felt that longing for an unknown relationship that Quindlen expresses in