Good news: "Grey's Anatomy" premieres this week. Bad, terrible, horrible news: Derek Shepherd is still dead. This twelfth (seriously?!) season of our favorite show is back, but without it's knight and shining whatever. And even though Shonda Rhimes insists that Meredith will be okay without Derek, we don't think we ever will be. Here's why:
As soon as we saw him, we fell in love.
When we found out he was married, we pretended we hated him (but we could never.)
And even though you wanted him all to yourself, you know he was meant to be with Meredith.
MerDer defined #relationshipgoals before hashtags even existed.
Their unconventional love story made you worship them even more.
And just when you thought Derek couldn't be any more perfect, he became a father.
His relationship with Mark was just as adorable as his relationship with Meredith.
He was, hands down, the best neurosurgeon in the history of ever.
And if AIM profiles were still a thing, most would be filled with Derek Shepherd quotes.
We never felt more joy when he lived through all the tragedies of Seattle Grace Mercy Death.
We thought Shonda would never kill him off! How foolish were we.
So even though the Grim Reaper came to Seattle Grace/Seattle Grace Mercy West/Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital many times...
...Derek's was by far the hardest death we ever witnessed.
And even though the show will never be the same, we'll be watching Meredith's newest journey once the new season begins on Thursday.
It's what Derek would have wanted.