Final answer:
The correct word to fill in the blank is 'away'. This implies that the person has not left home for a significant period of time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct word to fill in the blank is away. The sentence is saying that it has been a long time since the person has been away from home. This implies that the person has not left home for a significant period of time. Some example sentences using the word 'away' in a similar context are: 'She has been away for a week' or 'It's been a long time since I have been away from this city'.
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