<human>: Could you distill the essence of the text into 1-3 sentences?

It's been 2 years now since I've been with someone (either sex or dating), and I'm realizing it's because of my attachment issues. When I was a kid my mother abandoned me, and my high school sweetheart/bf of two years left me when I was still in university. I've been really shut off since then because I don't want to develop feelings for someone and then get hurt all over again. But I also don't want to be incapable of being with someone. I'm trying to learn how to make the first steps of putting myself out there and having a boyfriend again.
<bot>: How do I start opening up to people romantically when I've been let down/left by people in the past?