The Anatomy of Obsession

Meredith Grey scrubbed out of the operating room, her mind still reeling from the complex procedure they had just completed. As she changed into her street clothes, she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and satisfaction. She was a brilliant surgeon, and her colleagues respected her for it. But as she made her way to the hospital's cafeteria, her thoughts drifted to one person - Derek Shepherd. She had met Derek a few months ago, and their connection had been instant. He was charming, handsome, and an exceptional surgeon. Meredith had never felt this way about anyone before. She couldn't explain the intensity of her emotions, but she knew she wanted to spend every waking moment with him. As she waited in line for her coffee, Meredith found herself scanning the room, searching for Derek. She spotted him sitting at a table with Cristina Yang and a few other residents. Her heart skipped a beat as their eyes met, and he smiled at her. She felt a rush of excitement, and her palms grew sweaty. Meredith's thoughts began to spiral out of control as she watched Derek laugh and joke with Cristina. Who was Cristina to Derek, anyway? Just a colleague? A friend? Meredith's mind started to wander, conjuring up scenarios where Cristina was trying to steal Derek away from her. She shook her head, chiding herself for being ridiculous. She was being paranoid. But as she took her coffee and made her way over to Derek's table, she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. "Hey," Derek said, standing up to greet her. "How was your day?" Meredith smiled, trying to appear nonchalant. "It was fine. Just busy." Cristina raised an eyebrow, her eyes flicking between Meredith and Derek. "Everything okay, Meredith? You seem a little... distracted." Meredith's instincts kicked in, and she felt a surge of defensiveness. "I'm fine, Cristina. Just tired." Derek placed a hand on her arm, his touch sending shivers down her spine. "We're just discussing the latest surgical techniques. You should join us." Meredith's heart swelled with happiness as she sat down beside Derek. For a moment, she forgot about her growing unease. But as the conversation continued, she found herself growing more and more agitated. Cristina was flirting with Derek, and Meredith couldn't stand it. As they left the cafeteria, Meredith walked closely beside Derek, her arm brushing against his. She knew she was being clingy, but she couldn't help it. She felt a deep-seated need to be near him, to keep him safe from others. Derek didn't seem to mind, though. He smiled down at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I have to go to a meeting in a few minutes," he said. "But I'll meet you back at your place later?" Meredith's heart skipped a beat. She would do anything to spend more time with him. "I'd like that," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. As Derek walked away, Meredith felt a sense of anticipation building inside her. She knew she would do whatever it took to keep him by her side. Little did she know, her obsession was only just beginning.