“I am often told how lucky I am. ‘It's a gift, you'll never be conceited,’ they say. But all that does is make me more upset. I will never know who I truly am. I understand my thoughts, my feelings, school, just not my complete self. I guess that's what happens when you can't see your reflection.

No, I'm not blind, as you may have guessed. I actually consider myself highly fashionable. I'm a normal 17 year old girl, except for the fact I can't see myself. I am also not invisible. Everyone can see what I look like, but I can't. A normal person walks up to a mirror, and sees their face. When I walk up to a mirror, I see what's behind me. Same goes for pictures, reflecting pools, glass etc. Isn't that strange?

Tests. So many tests. Hundreds of doctors and dollars have gone into my problem. They thought it was my eyes, but then they thought it was my brain not accepting my image.

I have been told I have a nice body, shiny blond hair with a touch of brown in the roots. Hazel eyes and a perfect ski slope nose. I don't care what people say, I just want to know for myself.

My family never talks about it. It's not as though I have a disease, right? After the doctors gave up on me, we just pretended like there was nothing wrong. But there was, and the kids at school knew it. They called me vampire, invisible. One time I kid walked right in to me on purpose then said ‘Sorry I didn't see you there. I guess you were invisible.’ I guess I am.”

I finished typing, and took a shard of glass from the broken mirror I had broken minutes before and stabbed my eyes out, so I wouldn't have to see anything again, including myself.