Echoes of Resilience

52

One Year Later

"Can we get someone to put some more powder on Meredith?" Diane requested as they prepared to finally film Meredith's segment for the episode of Dateline on her case. A makeup assistant ran over to touch up the blonde's makeup. Addison sat next to her and squeezed her hand.

"Are you ready for this?" Addison asked with a concerned lift to her voice as she searched Meredith's face for hints of doubt.

"Yes." Meredith nodded. "It's been over a year since I first considered doing an interview and at the time I was doing it for the wrong reasons, but now I feel ready to speak out and I want to do it to bring awareness which I feel is a good reason."

"If it becomes too much Diane promised to stop and if she tries to break that promise, I will break a nail on her face." Addison growled..

"So protective." Meredith giggled as she kissed Addison softly. "It's sexy."

"You're lucky that makeup put a lip stain on you because if you just smudged your lipstick kissing me, Diane would probably explode." Addison chuckled. "I'm going to go get my makeup done so I'm ready when it's time for me to join you, if you need me just yell."

"I will." Meredith promised. "I love you and I trust you."

"I love you and I trust you too." Addison beamed as she got up and walked to her old bedroom which had been turned into a makeshift makeup studio. After Burke's trial she moved her clothes and other belongings into Meredith's bedroom, officially making it their bedroom.

"Alright Meredith, we're going to start." Diane sat down in a chair across from where Meredith sat on the couch. "Are you ready?"

"I am." Meredith confirmed as she took a deep breath. They started filming and Diane turned towards the camera with a smile.

"Hi I am Diane Singer and welcome to a special edition of Dateline. One of our highest rated episodes was the episode that focused on the case of Meredith Grey, a medical student who was kidnapped by a man named Derek Shepherd and held captive for nine months before she was rescued. Tonight, we will hear about the case firsthand from Meredith herself in her very first interview." Diane introduced the show before turning to Meredith. "Thank you so much for being here with us Meredith."

"Thank you for having me." Meredith smiled. The blonde was filled with anxiety, but she reminded herself of why she was doing this and that was to bring awareness to the fact that trauma doesn't end at the same time as a hostage victim is rescued and that being a public figure shouldn't mean that people can say anything they want about you online.

"What our viewers don't know is that you were actually supposed to be featured in our episode on the case that aired last year. Can you talk about why you ended up not being in that episode?" Diane prompted.

"At that time, I was going through a lot mentally. I had only been out of the shed for I believe nine months and I was still processing everything that I went through. I was in a very dark place and if I did the interview at that time, it would have been for the wrong reasons." Meredith explained.

"Are you doing better now?" Diane asked.

"I am." Meredith nodded with a smile. "After Preston Burke's trial, I felt like I was ready to move forward with my life and I went back to school and took my exams and graduated medical school. I now work in a free clinic that is open 24/7 for rape victims. I got my certification as a sexual assault forensic examiner and I get to support both women and men who have been victims of sexual assault. I have found the experience to be incredibly rewarding and healing."

"That is amazing!" Diane smiled. "Congratulations! So you provide medical services to people that went through things similar to what you went through?"