It Was Time (part 2)

Tany's back continued to glow as tears crept into my eyes. What was happening? Was I getting soft?  
 
My finger still pressed against the trigger.  
 
Tanya's attention stayed with the water. She said something to Michael. He nodded toward her and then looked away, still standing silently.  
 
I thought of the love they’d made over the years. I replayed their love making in my mind from earlier that evening but was astonished when the vision turned to a young girl experiencing love for what I knew must have been her first time. She was smooth-skinned with a face full of wonder.  
 
The crack of my rifle echoed loud from the hillsides.  
 
Tanya turned slightly to her right and her eyes seemed to meet Michael’s. She stood firm for a moment before beginning a slow fall as if she were a mature tree held by deep roots. Her hands hung softly at her sides. When she finally tumbled to the ground there was no sound from her voice. She was completely still.  
 
Michael ran to her and fell to his knees, sobbing loud enough for me to hear. He said he was sorry again and again. He knelt looking at her lifeless face as if she might respond. I stood and walked quietly toward her. When I arrived, Michael seemed oblivious to my presence.  
 
I saw the lines that framed Tany’s eyes for the first time up close and remembered how alive they’d been a short time before. As I looked at the body on this gravel shore, I reminded myself that this was difficult, but important, work. I had put an end to Tany’s suffering. Still, I wondered if the time was right.