My mother left because my father is abnormally abusive (in ways words cannot describe) and utmostly evil. His hatred for the world is unbound. He constantly talked about what a terrible person my mother was and how she was to blame for everything and about how I was an accident that caused the ruination of his life.
I tried to see her once,... but my father found out and attempted to destroy her life even further. Still, the extremely brief time we spent helped me understand the situation better, and despite my father constantly telling me what a horrible person she was, I refused to believe until I saw for myself... and truly, were I capable of leaving the house as a baby I would have left him too. (The only reason I ended up with him was because of his effortless manipulation of the courtroom)
She was a christian evangelist at the time who lived in poverty with many issues and problems, a miracle worker of sorts, with the power to change almost all lives but her own... After a near-death car crash she walked out of the wreckage and into a church... and was holding onto blind faith dearly, the pain of reality being a hard weight to bear.
And, it turns out I wasn't such an accident after all.
I guess... talk lightly and test the water, do some things together that you both may like... some people cannot talk about their feelings (should they have any) after such a long time, and they may just break apart if they begin.
There are many assholes in this world, and many couples who break up for reasons other than you... doesn't always make them different from the rest of the world. Some people really won't give you the time of day nor care about your suffering, some people are curious and may wish to know you better,... and some have been locking the guilt away inside of them since they left you...
Either way, when meeting... try and hold your chin up high...