'Grey's Anatomy' Season 11: Ellen Pompeo Talks Meredith's Future as Fans Want to Bring Derek Back

Actress Ellen Pompeo, who plays Meredith on "Grey's Anatomy," broke her silence over her on-screen husband Derek Shepherd's death, saying she was excited to see what's in store for her character.

Taking to Twitter, Pompeo tweeted she's eager to know how Meredith will move on from the terrible loss of her partner who has been with her since season 1.

"I have always said what keeps me going is fans. Knowing we move you and inspire you. There are so many people out there who have suffered tremendous loss and tragedy. Husbands and wives of soldiers, victims of senseless violence and parents who have lost children. People who get up each day and do what feels like is the impossible.

"So it is for these people and in the spirit of resilience I am honored and excited to tell the story of how Meredith goes on in the face of what feels like the impossible."

As "Grey's Anatomy" fans know, Derek breathed his last on Thursday after Meredith gave the consent to unplug him following an accident that left him brain dead. Meredith was alone with her husband when he died, and next week's episode of "Grey's Anatomy" will see Meredith announcing the news of Derek's death to their colleagues, which includes Derek's sister Amelia.

Like Pompeo, actor Patrick Dempsey too expressed sadness at having to bid adieu to his on-screen wife, and he reportedly teared up when asked about the bond they developed playing Derek and Meredith for 11 seasons.

"Beautiful chemistry. It's magic. Chemistry. It's beautiful. We're like a married couple. It's 10 years and it was magic from the beginning. Chemistry right away. Very moving, always has been," he told Entertainment Weekly about Pompeo.

Meanwhile, fans of "Grey's Anatomy", who are unhappy with Shonda Rhimes' decision to kill off Derek, have launched an online petition seeking his return. The petition on Change.org has already garnered more than 65,000 signatures.

The petition notes that it's important to bring back Derek "because you cannot have people invest a DECADE into a character and then you just terminate them like that!"