The Commercial Pilot

Sitting in the head of the plane, watching every person file in. Watching each seat calmly get filled in with smiling children and tired adults. This flight depends on me. Crash or not, I am the pilot. Before we leave I lift the loudspeaker. I tell the smiling children and tired adults what and how it's going to work, like the route and weather then pass it off to the flight attendant. While she explains the safety instructions then once again she explains the weather and the route. When the flight attendant is finished I take one deep breath. I look at my co-pilot, smile, and look forward. Here we go.

Later that day...

American Airlines Flight 587. Crashed. 0 survivors.