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WHY SOME IMAGES FORM BEHIND THE MIRROR?

 a virtual image is an image in which the outgoing rays from a point on the object always diverge and will appear to converge on or behind the optical device ie  mirror. 

A simple example is a flat mirror where the image of oneself is perceived at twice the distance from oneself in the mirror. That is, if one is half a meter in front of the mirror, one's image will appear to be at a distance of 1 meter away (or half a meter inside or behind the mirror). Because the rays never really converge, one cannot project a virtual image.