Vega was princess of the heavens. Altair was a cowherd sitting under a tree playing and singing beautiful music. The princess heard his song and came down from the heavens to sit with him. They fell in love. Her mother was furious because goddesses may not mix with earthlings. She locked the princess away behind a wall of stars that we call The Milky Way. Her father took pity on her and, each year, he built bridge of magpies across the milky way so she could visit her cowherd for one day only. This date, the 7th day of the 7th lunar month is still celebrated in China and Korea as a day for lovers. Altair and Vega are the star-crossed lovers of eastern mythology. This painting tells the story of two other star-crossed lovers who's story spans more than 50 years. They, too, visit each other for moments and sometimes a few days whenever the heavens permit it.