Bellyache

By: Brianna Pastor

Published by HarperOne, 2026-02-24

From the author of Good Grief, an intimate collection of poems and prose which offers a glimpse into the mind of a highly sensitive person, or empath. In a world that has become increasingly difficult to navigate--physically, mentally, and spiritually--having empathy is more important than ever. But what if you have a highly sensitive mind? Highly sensitive people, known as empaths, have an expanded capacity to feel not only one set of emotions but also those of others. They experience life more deeply than the average person, leaving them more susceptible to nervous system dysregulation, emotional trauma, and abuse. Divided into three parts--Body, Mind, and Soul--Brianna Pastor's intimate collection of poems invites us to explore what it's like to discover high sensitivity in adulthood and view life through an empathetic lens. Hopefully, by deepening our understanding of sensitivity and how it affects others, we can move one step closer to a more connected, healed world. I have a bellyache from constantly absorbing all this pain. I'd ask you to refrain from telling me, but your eyes already have.