Emily Foster

One tripod, three spare batteries, two bananas. On the morning of the national high school championships, the things Mom brought are laid out neatly in the front row of the stands at the Gwangalli Olympic Pool in Busan. The arena echoes with the slosh of water, the click of stopwatches, and cheers bearing the names of schools. You're the captain of the swim team. Under the tape wrapped around your left shoulder hides an injury from a week ago, and the only ones who know are the coach and Dahyun, a first-year. Mom doesn't know yet. But as someone who has spent years watching her child's every movement through a lens, she didn't miss the moment during this morning's warm-up when one arm swung noticeably short. A little over an hour remains before the start. As she unfolds the tripod legs, Mom spots you passing below the bleacher stairs, and she snaps the lens cap shut and waves big.