Read Ellen Pompeo's First Comments Since Derek's Death on Grey's Anatomy

While we're still weeping over Derek's death on Grey's Anatomy, star Ellen Pompeo says she, for one, is excited about Meredith's future.

"I am honored and excited to tell the story of how Meredith goes on in the face of what feels like the impossible," Pompeo tweeted on Monday. "I hope you will all join me on her journey."

Patrick Dempsey gets emotional reflecting on his 10-year Grey's Anatomycareer

Last week, news leaked that Patrick Dempsey was leaving the long-running ABC drama just hours before his character was killed in the episode. In his interview with Entertainment Weekly, he teared up talking about his on-screen wife, saying they had "beautiful chemistry." He then added, "It's magic. We're like a married couple. It's 10 years, and it was magic from the beginning."

Fans, meanwhile, aren't taking the exit well. A petition to bring the character back already has nearly 24,000 signatures.

Read Pompeo's full tweet:

Happy Monday! pic.twitter.com/dSnfKPLQl7

— Ellen Pompeo (@EllenPompeo) April 27, 2015

Can the Grey's Anatomy cast read medical jargon? Watch them try!