after a long time

[rainous]

Look who’s here. Michael is back after a long time.

Hi,

Does "after a long time" read well in the sentence?

or would there be more native-like way to greet someone who's been away for a while?

But I want to keep "Michael is back". I am asking if there is a better substitute for "after a long time".

I would appreciate any help I can get.

[5jj]

Look who’s here. Michael is back after a long time (away).
or:
Look who’s here. It's Michael, back after a long time (away).

These are fine.

[rainous]

Sir. I have to say...

your second suggestion kicked me on my arse.

Thank you very much.

[5jj]

your second suggestion kicked me on my a**e.

That is not an expression with which I am familiar. What did you mean by it?

[rainous]

Well, sorry about the confusion. Sir.

"kick me in my ass" "knock me on my ass"

I was under the impression (maybe falsely now that you pointed it out) that the phrase meant something along the lines of "blow my hair off" or something similar to that.

Maybe you could enlighten me on that front as well.

(I basically meant your second one kicked ass but I guess it came out wrong.)

[rainous]

Your second suggestion was simply exquisite. (maybe only to me; maybe they don't make much difference to you. Am I silly to think that your second suggestion seems better than the first one?)

Well, that's exactly where I am in my English.

I can think of the first one but

I can't come up with the second one, which conveys my intention and the nuance much better.