We knew we were losing some Grey’s Anatomy cast members when the 21st season hit the 2024 TV schedule, but as we bid farewell to Levi Schmitt on Thursday’s emotional episode I

Levi first entered the hallow halls of Grey Sloan Memorial as an intern in Season 14. He quickly made a lasting impression when his glasses fell into the abdomen of a patient on his first day, earning him the nickname "Glasses." That tumultuous first day set Levi up for a journey of self-discovery and finding his own confidence.

"I think it's so beautiful to see two gay men in a loving relationship like this, where they are willing to take huge leaps of faith for one another," Borelli tells PEOPLE

We may not have much time to miss Grey’s Anatomy’s Jake Borelli. The actor, who scrubbed out midway through what would have been his eighth season in Thursday’s episode (recapped here), is already talking about returning to the long-running ABC drama.

Jake Borelli, who has played the role of Dr. Levi Schmitt on Grey’s Anatomy for seven seasons, has opened up about his grief about the character leaving his role behind. In the most recent episode, Levi bids farewell to his coworkers at Grey Sloan Memorial and takes a job in Texas that specializes in pediatric research.