TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
they never expected another tragedy, the memory of October 9 cast a long shadow. What surprised Cindy was how healing returned, slowly and quietly, often in ordinary moments. She described a day when she, Jessica, and Emily attended a children’s resale event—something they once did easily, before everything changed. “For the first time in years,” she said, “we let ourselves get excited about baby clothes again.” It was simple, but profound. “That was the most therapeutic thing the three of us had done in five years.” In November, Emily and the entire family welcomed Haisley Michelle, who brought with her a joy that was previously stolen and filled a deep place in their hearts. Emily gave her daughter Reagan’s middle name in honor and memory of her big sister. It is a reminder that life continues—not by letting go of those we lose, but by carrying them forward. Reagan Michelle Hancock isn’t confined to the past. She shows up in her daughter, Kynlee, and in the closeness of a family that refuses to let tragedy destroy them. Her absence is unmistakable, but so is her imprint. The blast changed everything, but it did not erase what endures. Reagan’s memory remains in the stories her family tells. In the years since October 9, 2020, Jessica and her family have learned what it means to live in the after. Life did not return to what it was, and it never will. Instead, they have learned to carry what remains—faith and family. The memory and impact of Reagan’s life were greater than the violence that took her. Reagan’s story is not defined by the details of a crime. It is defined by who she was: steady, loving, funny, tender when it mattered, and a fiercely devoted mother.
Jessica Brookes holds a cherished family photo.
A special thank you to Apricot Lane Boutique for donating the wardrobe worn by Jessica Brookes.
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LIFE & STYLE
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