Flashback.
"Oh… you're staying with her…."
There's a pause before he finally looks at her.
"She's my wife."
He says, as if that explains everything. As if that gives him an excuse to pretend like the past few months never happened. As if she never told him to pick her. Choose her. Love her. She doesn't do anything because she's afraid that if she so much as breathes her composure will shatter and the tears she has to hold back will come tumbling forward.
End Flashback.
Meredith's eyes flew open and after a quick look around she sighed. Again. She had that stupid dream again. Every emotion, every look, and every word that had happened that night went flooding through her every time she dreamt of it. She groaned as she got up from bed and looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was a mess, but that was to be expected since she had just woken up. Her eyes were tired and lifeless, with dark circles beneath them. Her skin was pale and dull, and her nose was slightly red from the crying she must have done during her dream. Her lips were dry and chapped and she looked thinner than usual.
"Good, God, Grey! No wonder he didn't pick you. Look at yourself, you're just… you. Addison's hair is always perfect, always a shining red. Her skin glows, and her eyes have light in them. And her perfect lips are always perfectly made up to give a perfect kiss to her perfect… husband."
The word even tasted bitter in her minds mouth. She sighed and went to the bathroom.
After her shower she looked slightly better, but her hair was hopeless so she tied it back, picked up her bag and left.
The ride to the hospital was silent. Izzie and George seemed afraid to say anything, probably because they didn't want to slip into anything having to do with Derek.
When they got there Izzie and George quickly walked ahead of her, talking very, very fast in low voices. Meredith sighed as she trudged after them. While they were waiting for the elevator she saw Derek come in alone. He stopped when he saw her, a concerned look covering his face. Almost as if he was in pain… almost as if he…. No.
She shook her head quickly and looked away, stepping onto the elevator quickly as her eyes welled and she clenched her jaw to keep the tears from shedding.