(This story is a class assignment and does not represent actual events. The subject is not dead, as of the time of posting.)

By: Madison Mabry

SPRINGFIELD, MO— An Evangel University student, Kylie Burks, died Friday evening after running into a burning library. She was 20.

Kylie Burks, the copyeditor for The Lance at Evangel, was on her way to a print night when she first noticed the smoke at the library. Witnesses said she ran toward the flames, hoping to save what was believed to be the last known copy of Pride and Prejudice. Despite attempts, Kylie Burks was too deep into the fire for witnesses or authorities to save her. Kylie Burks’ final act reflected a lifelong passion for literature, her faith and the people around her.

As one of five siblings, Kylie Burks was described by family and friends as a steady and responsible presence. “She was always the peacemaker,” her mother, Tara Burks, said. “She [was] the one who always felt like she needed to keep everyone together.”

Kylie Burks always had a close bond with her family, especially her twin sister Alea. “We’ve always been super close. There’s never been a time that we were at odds with each other,” Alea Burks said.

Despite their close relationship, the two had different personalities. “We’re two sides of the same coin. Her strengths are my weaknesses and her weaknesses are my strengths,” Alea Burks said.

Kylie Burks’ faith was a defining aspect of her life, guiding her through both everyday challenges and significant hardships. She battled a hip injury and Lyme disease in high school but refused to let her struggles define her. Instead, she leaned on her faith. “[It] is pretty amazing to see how well she has given all that to God, and just trusted that God was going to heal her from those things,” Tara Burks said.

Tara Burks also shared memories of Kylie Burks’ athletic and imaginative childhood, recalling the many hours she and her sisters spent playing sports and pretending to be characters from Little House on the Prairie. Even as she grew older, Burks’ appreciation for tradition remained central to her identity. According to her sister, Pride and Prejudice shaped her life and brought her the most joy. “She [was} super happy whenever she [was] either watching or reading Pride and Prejudice,” Alea Burks said.

More than anything, Kylie Burks was known for the way she cared for others. Emily Boldman, a longtime friend, remembered her as someone who was always present for those in need. “Kylie’s personality is like everyone’s ideal older sister. She [had] such a caring and tender heart, but she [was] also fiercely loyal to everyone and willing to defend justice from any angle,” Boldman said. “She [was] willing to give up anything for the people she [loved] and [showed] up when no one else [did].”

Kylie Burks’ passing has left a great impact on her family, friends and community. Her short but impactful legacy lives on in the many lives she touched and in the books she treasured.