The other day, Timehop informed me that it has already been a whole year since Shonda Rhimes ruined our lives and we lost our beloved McDreamy. Apparently I was all sorts of angry and distraught over this unexpected plot twist, and I found it necessary to make sure all of my Twitter followers knew that. In the past year, Grey's Anatomy has undergone countless changes, and the show will never be the same without Patrick Dempsey's beautiful face on our television screens.
That said, even though Derek is gone now, Meredith Grey's storyline always comes back to her once-in-a-lifetime love. McDreamy may be gone, but he will never be forgotten. So here's a tribute to everyone's favorite neurosurgeon, one year after his death, as we remember some of his greatest moments. (I'll forgive you someday, Shonda.)
When he was literally standing face to face with a serial killer but he still calmly reminded us that everyone makes mistakes sometimes.
Whenever he and Meredith had an awkward moment in an elevator (which was like, every single day).
When he showed us that even a world-renowned neurosurgeon with perfect hair and angelic eyes can experience self-doubt and low self-esteem sometimes.
But he also inspired us to always believe in ourselves and to never take life for granted.
When he promised he would always be there (until that one time he didn't show up, thanks again Shonda).
When he was all of us trying to do assignments.
Pretty much every single time he said this and we knew everything was going to be okay.
Whenever he interacted with Zola and melted our hearts.
I mean come on, the guy wore A PRINCESS CROWN to a TEA PARTY for her, and he loved every second of it.
When this moment happened and MerDer officially defined #relationshipgoals.
When he always said exactly what we needed to hear.
When he made us set the bar unrealistically high for all the men in our own lives.
And finally, when he spoke his last words to Meredith over a voicemail and we all simultaneously sobbed because THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
Rest in peace, McDreamy.