The past hits

Don't screw it up

Derek stood there, frozen, as her car disappeared down the street. The weight of her words sank deep into his chest, each one slicing him open in ways he hadn't expected. His fists clenched, not out of anger, but out of helplessness. How had he let things get so bad? How had he become the man who destroyed the one person he loved most?

Inside the hospital, the murmurs and stolen glances from staff were unbearable. Derek's mind raced as he walked back through the halls. He couldn't escape the reality she had laid bare. The shame of their past, the scars—both seen and unseen—haunted him.

He left the hospital, the cold air hitting him like a slap. He didn't know where to go, but his feet led him to his car. His hands gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white as he sat there, unmoving. He couldn't let this be the end. Not after everything.

-

Meredith parked in front of her house, her hands trembling as she turned off the engine. She glanced at Ellie in the backseat, still sound asleep, her small chest rising and falling in rhythm. At least one of them could find peace, she thought bitterly.

She wiped her tears hastily and carried Ellie inside. Once her daughter was tucked into bed, Meredith collapsed onto the couch, her head falling back against the cushions. Her eyes burned, her throat raw from crying. But her mind wouldn't stop. Derek's face kept flashing before her—those eyes that used to make her feel safe now only reminded her of pain.

The sound of her phone vibrating on the coffee table snapped her out of her thoughts. She hesitated before picking it up. A message from Derek.

'I'm sorry isn't enough. I know that. But I'll do anything to make it right, Meredith. Anything.'

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. Part of her wanted to tell him to leave her alone forever, but another part—one she hated—ached for him to try. To prove that he could be the man she and Ellie deserved. She locked her phone without replying, tossing it aside like it burned her.

-

Derek didn't expect a response, not right away. But he wasn't going to give up. He spent the night pacing his apartment, thinking about the years he had thrown away, the damage he had done. Meredith's words played on repeat in his head, each one reminding him of his failures. He knew he couldn't change the past, but he had to show her—show them—that he was here now. And he wasn't going anywhere.

The next morning, he stood outside her building, a cup of coffee in one hand and a stuffed animal for Ellie in the other. He didn't knock right away, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He knew Meredith might slam the door in his face, but he had to try.

When the door opened, Meredith stood there, her arms crossed, her eyes still red from the night before. She said nothing, just stared at him with a mixture of exhaustion and guarded hope.

"I know I don't deserve another chance," Derek began, his voice low and steady. "But I'm here. And I'm not walking away again. Not from you, not from Ellie."

Meredith's jaw tightened. "Words mean nothing, Derek."

"I know," he said. "Let me show you. Please."

She didn't respond right away, her eyes scanning his face for any sign of insincerity. Finally, she stepped aside, letting him in. "You get one chance," she said quietly. "Don't screw it up."

Derek nodded, his heart pounding as he stepped inside. For the first time in years, he felt like he had a purpose. And he wasn't going to waste it.