The emotion I feel after killing off a character is probably the same as the reader. If it was easy, I need to ask whether they should have been there in the first place. I have a range of emotions when ending the life of an emotionally charged character, and I hope my readers feel, some remorse or glee depending on the role that character played.
I gave them this fictional life, and only I can take it away when the time is right of course. I might want to befriend them BUT THEY AINT REAL! Albeit sometimes they seem to beg me to carry them to the end.
Don’t know about you but I can spot a character in a film or novel designed with the sole purpose of being killed off in the hope it adds shock value. I try to avoid this and never set out with the aim that they won't be around for the end. If I’m shocked, its happened and didn't see it coming the reader will feel the same way. They might even put it down to good plotting! Zeta: Resin Pines