Look at me you may think you see who I really am; but you'll never know me. Everyday it's as if I play a part. Now I see that if I wear a mask I can fool the world; but I cannot fool my heart. Who is that girl I see staring straight back at me? When will my reflection show who I am inside?

Alice lay on her bed in her beautiful room in the Cullen's house dry sobbing into her hands. Jasper was hunting, and her whole world felt like it was falling apart. When she wasn't alone, her face was a calm façade that was the only Alice the rest of the family knew, but deep inside, her heart was broken. Edward heard her cries and knew that something was bothering her. He knocked quietly on the door.

Alice heard Edward and snapped. "Leave me alone! What part of that don't you understand?"

Edward softly touched Alice's shoulder and said "I'm your brother, Alice; it's my job to make the pain go away. Now tell me what's wrong."

He pulled her upright and wrapped her in a hug. The two of them sat like that for a long time before Alice said, "I don't know who I am. Edward at least you know part of your human life. I don't know anything about who I used to be."

Edward sighed and said "Alice I know who you are. You are my annoying pixie vampire sister. I wouldn't trade you for anything in this or any world."

Alice sniffled and said, "Shut up, Edward! You don't know me at all. The happy pixie who loves shopping is all an act."

Edward didn't say anything, but Alice could feel his vice-like grip grow even tighter. After awhile he looked her in the eye and asked, "Do you want me to get Jasper?"

Alice gestured wildly at the mirror and wailed, "Edward I don't want him to see me like this. I stay with him because he always seems to make me into another, happier girl. I just hate the fact that I don't know who this girl is." She gave a wild gasp and collapsed in Edward's arms. They stayed like that until the sky lightened to the familiar gray of the morning.

As the new light cast shadows over Edward's face, Alice regained her composure and smiled sadly at Edward. Suddenly, they heard familiar footsteps coming up the stairs and Jasper's familiar voice chatting with Emmett.

Alice sprang to her feet and whirled around to face Edward. "I'm a mess. I can't face him like this."

"Yes, you can," Edward said firmly. He grabbed her upper arms and moved her so she was sitting on the edge of the bed again. "You will do fine." He kissed her cheek and exited the room. Alice heard him wish Jasper a good morning in the hall.

She heard her love before she saw him. "How is my beautiful pixie this fine morning?" She stifled a hysterical giggle as he swung through the door. He stopped just inside the door and stared at her for a moment before his shaky voice composed the words, "Alice, is something wrong? What's the matter, honey?"

Alice sighed and said "It's nothing Jasper. I just had a rough night. It's nothing you need to worry about."

Jasper sighed. He loved his wife, but sometimes, he tired of her cheerful mask. He just wished she could open up to him and release the pain that was buried so deep it was difficult for him to feel. "I love you so much, and it kills me to see you hurting," he said, Alice's pain mirroring itself on his face. "I need to know what is making you feel so broken."

Alice sighed and said, "What makes you think something is wrong? I'm perfectly fine."

Jasper hated it when she was like this. Did she have no confidence in his ability? "I always feel your pain, but it is definitely stronger right now. Secondly, Edward just told me that something is bothering you."

She started at this, and began to dry sob again. "When will the face I see in the mirror show everyone else who I am? Jasper, I can't take it any more. I don't know who I am and I never will."

Jasper nodded and spoke softly to her. "Alice, I love you so much. Please don't hide from me when you feel like this again. I want to mend your heart when it shatters. I can't mend it if I don't see the tear."

I am now in a world where I have to hide my heart and what I believe in. Some how I will show the world what's inside my heart and be loved for who I am; why is my reflection someone I don't know? Must I pretend that I am someone else for all time?

That night, Jasper ran into town again. Alice would have gone with him, but the black hole that had been torturing her for so loomed up and threatened to swallow her again. When Jasper came home, he found Alice curled up in a ball, dry sobbing.

"Are you alright, my pixie princess?"

Alice sniffled and said "I know I was sent to an asylum. My parents didn't love me. My visions aren't something good. They are a curse. I hate them!"

Jasper sighed and said, "Come here Alice. Your parents loved you; they just didn't understand. Carlisle and Esme love you very much too, but none of that matters because I love you for who you are.. The outside world just doesn't see in you what I see."

Alice sat up and wrapped her skinny arms around Jasper's wiry frame. After a long time she said "How long do I have to hide who I really am? Jasper, you don't know what it's like to have to give a fake name when I meet someone new. I have to hide what is inside my heart; I have to hide what I believe in. You and Edward are the only ones who know what I truly am."

Jasper gently ran his hand through Alice's hair and said "We all love you, Alice, but I know this isn't everything that's bothering you. Alice, please tell me what is wrong. Do I get to kill the person who hurt you?"

Alice giggled quietly before she let her face fall. "I want to be loved by someone because I'm me. I want someone to love this side of me no matter how depressed I get. I don't think anyone is ever capable of that amount of love. Even you, Jasper. That's why I hide my heart from everyone."

Jasper smiled reassuringly at his wife before running downstairs. Within thirty seconds, he was back, and he carried with him an ordinary glass of water. He placed it on the bedside table next to Alice and said, "Look into it and tell me what you see."

Alice stared into the glass for a long time before answering. "I see a short crazy girl with messy black hair who sees things that aren't there."

An extremely exasperated look spread over Jasper's face. "That's not what I see. I see a beautiful happy girl who has a heart of gold. You know what else; I love this girl very much."

Alice avoided Jaspers gaze as she stood up. "That's allthe mask," she cried. "I can't keep living a lie."

Jasper took Alice's hand gently and said "Alice, you are that girl. She is a small part of you that you are afraid to let out. You've just been hurt too much to truly believe that you can really be happy. I love you, Alice, because you are strong, beautiful, brave and most of all because you are the least selfish person I've ever met."

There's a heart that must be free to fly. It burns with a need to know the reasons why. Why must we all conceal what we think and how we feel? Must there be a secret me I'm forced to hide? I won't pretend I'm someone else for all time. When will my reflection show who I am inside?

Alice was still sobbing, but it was for a different reason this time. She smiled at Jasper. "Thank you for setting my heart free, at least for you. I love you Jasper."

"Alice please don't cry anymore."

Alice sighed and asked "Will I ever be able to stop hiding who I really am? I don't like covering my heart with thick walls that no one but you can ever break. When will I be able to show who I am to the rest of my family?"

Jasper lightly kissed Alice's lips and said "I don't know, Darlin', but I do know that whenever you are ready, the rest of the family will embrace the new Alice with as much enthusiasm as they welcomed us before."

Alice smiled to herself and looked at the glass of water. For the first time since she could remember, she looked at her reflection and saw her true self.