not before long / not long before

[chrive]

In the sentence below, should I be replacing `not before long' with `not long before'? Which one is correct?

It was not before long, Angela sensed that her sick parents were dying. She started spending most of her time with them.

Thank you for your suggestions.

 

[Raymott]

That sentence only makes sense with "not long before" and no comma.

 

[emsr2d2]

Or you can say "Before long, Angela sensed [that] her sick parents were dying". "Before long" means "After a short period of time".