Ain Elena searched frantically through her drawer, scattering papers and receipts in every direction. Her hands trembled slightly as she moved to her bag, unzipping every compartment, hoping the form Gabriella filled out yesterday would appear. It wasn’t there. Her heartbeat quickened—she needed that form to reach Gabriella. She glanced around her room, her eyes scanning the cluttered table beside her bed. Then she saw it — lying on the floor, half-hidden under a folded towel.

A sigh of ...