Here's why:
* The "a" in "away" has a short vowel sound. It sounds like the "a" in "cat" or "hat."
* Long vowel sounds are typically represented by the vowel letter being followed by a silent "e" at the end of the word (like "bake") or by a vowel digraph (like "eat").
Therefore, the "a" in "away" has a short vowel sound, not a long one.