Meredith Grey, one of the main characters in the television series Grey’s Anatomy, experienced a great deal of loss throughout the series. One of the most significant losses she faced was the death of her husband, Derek Shepherd, who was also a main character on the show. The aftermath of his death was an emotional journey for Meredith and one that lasted for a considerable amount of time.
Derek’s death occurred in the 21st episode of season 11, titled “How to Save a Life.” In this episode, Derek was involved in a car accident, which ultimately led to his death. The episode ended with Meredith receiving the news of his passing and collapsing on the floor of the hospital.
Following Derek’s death, Meredith went through a period of grief and mourning. In the following episode, titled “She’s Leaving Home,” Meredith was seen struggling to come to terms with the loss of her husband. She was shown taking down pictures of Derek and removing his belongings from their home. The episode ended with Meredith leaving her children in the care of her half-sister, Maggie, and disappearing without any explanation.
The next episode, titled “Time Stops,” began with a scene showing that Meredith had been missing for several days. Her friends and family were concerned about her well-being, and her whereabouts were unknown. It was later revealed that Meredith had checked herself into a hotel room and had been drinking heavily since Derek’s death.
Over the course of the episode, Meredith’s friends and family attempted to locate her and convince her to come home. They expressed their concern for her well-being and their desire to support her through this difficult time. Eventually, Meredith’s best friend, Cristina Yang, was able to convince her to return home, and she checked herself into a rehab facility to seek treatment for her alcoholism.
Meredith’s time in rehab was not shown on the show, but it was mentioned in subsequent episodes. It is unclear exactly how long she spent in the facility, but it was likely several weeks or even months. During this time, Meredith worked on overcoming her addiction and dealing with the loss of her husband.
After completing her rehab program, Meredith returned home to Seattle and resumed her job as a surgeon at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. In the following episodes, she was shown struggling to adjust to life without Derek and to raise their children as a single mother. She was also seen having flashbacks of her life with Derek and struggling to come to terms with his death.
Throughout the remainder of season 12 and into season 13, Meredith’s grief was a recurring theme on the show. She was shown attending grief counseling sessions and attempting to move on with her life. She also began dating again, although this was not without its challenges.
It is difficult to say exactly how long Meredith was gone after Derek’s death, as the show did not provide a clear timeline. However, based on the events shown on the show, it can be estimated that she was missing for several days before checking into the hotel and staying there for an unknown amount of time. She likely spent several weeks or months in rehab before returning home to Seattle. Overall, Meredith’s journey through grief and mourning following Derek’s death was a significant storyline on the show and one that spanned several seasons.