The passage discusses two stories that depict difficult journeys: "Woman Hollering Creek" by Sandra Cisneros and "The Shawl" by Cynthia Ozick. Both stories feature female protagonists who travel from their homelands to the United States to escape hardship. While hoping to find relief, they realize they must face their past struggles in order to achieve inner peace. The journeys require great sacrifices, such as Cleófilas leaving her abusive husband and becoming a single mother in "Woman Hollering Creek". Though challenging, facing past difficulties is part of completing the journey.